Is Shelby Rogers Finally The 'Real Deal'? - UBITENNIS
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Is Shelby Rogers Finally The ‘Real Deal’?

Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper columnist James Beck takes a close look at the rise of Shlby Rogers at the this year’s Australian Open.

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Shelby Rogers (image via https://twitter.com/WTA)

Is now the time to buy into the possibility that the current Shelby Rogers is the “real deal” in women’s tennis?

 

I know, I sound like The Motley Fool stock market analyst or maybe one of your favorite insurance companies.

Of course, there is no real insurance that Rogers is headed for WTA Tour greatness just because the 28-year-old from Charleston, S.C., looks that way right now. More future stars such as Cori Gauff might be waiting right around the corner to block Rogers’ path, or even another injury can’t be ruled out.

But that’s the case with any potential star or bonafide superstar.

ROGERS’ DREAMS COULD BECOME REAL

Right now, Rogers might have to settle for a second round of 16 Grand Slam showing in the last six months (quarterfinals at the 2020 U.S. Open). That wouldn’t be too shabby considering the trip Down Under would be worth at least $320K and enough WTA Tour points to push Rogers inside the world’s top 50 women for a second time in her career.

That’s before Rogers takes on world’s No. 1 Ash Barty in the round of 16 at the Australian Open.

If Rogers happens to win this one, anything would be possible. A Grand Slam title? A check for $2.75 mllion?  A spot among the world’s top 15 women?

It’s worth a dream.

CHARLESTON GIRL HAS A CHANCE

Rogers knows she, at least, has a chance against Barty after taking the Aussie superstar to a match tiebreaker just a week ago during their long stay in Australia while trying to stay out of the way of Covid-19 or one of its variants.

“I will be excited not to play a third-set tiebreaker, because she (Barty) kicked my butt in that last time,” Rogers told the tennis world Saturday after “blowing kisses to no one” in Rod Laver.

“And we won’t have a Barty party in the stands, and that’s good for me, too.”

Rogers had just dispensed of 21st seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia by winning 11 of the last 14 games to claim a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the round of 32.

Barty also cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win over 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia after a slow start.

ROGERS FEELS ‘INCREDIBLE’ GOING AGAINST BARTY

“She’s on fire. She’s playing free. She is such a talented girl,” Rogers said about Barty. “I’ll going to have to bring my best game, for sure.”

While several other players were coming down with injuries, Rogers pronounced, “I feel incredible. I’m missing the fans extra tonight. So excited to be playing well and moving on here.

“It’s so cool to be back here the last few weeks, and have all of the support and some sense of normalcy in tough situations.  I feel the support from home. All of my family and friends are watching . . . 

If they set their alarms. Some of them slept. I’ll forgive you guys.”

Of course, the Rogers-Kontaveit match was played in the middle of the night, Charleston time.

SHE HAD TO RALLY TO SET UP THE MEETING WITH BARTY

How did Rogers come back so far (down 4-1) against a player ranked as high as Kontaveit?

“I just brought in the margins a little bit. It’s a big court. You have a lot of space down here. I was this far (using her fingers to measure the difference) off in the first set going for my shots in the beginning. I thought that I was hitting clean and going for the right shots.

“Just adjusting my targets I set at the beginning and stay aggressive and move forward. And then I made a few more first serves, which helped.”

ROGERS WAS THE BIG HITTER AND SERVER

Rogers was hitting lights out in those last 14 games, much the same way she has been playing since her knee injury of three years ago that kept her off the tour for a full year. Just over four years ago, Rogers gained her career-best ranking of No. 49.

She served like the big hitter she is, hitting a solid percentage of her first serves after the slow start. She won nine of the 10 first serves she put into play in the second set.

Yes, Shelby Rogers looks capable of possibly beating the odds and soaring sky high.

James Beck has been the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com. See his Post and Courier columns at postandcourier.com and search for James Beck.

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Arthur Fils beats Luca Van Assche in all-French semifinal at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah

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World number 36 Arthur Fils beat his friend Luca Van Assche 2-4 4-1 4-3 (7-1) 4-3 (8-6) in an all-French clash after 1 hour and 37 minutes to reach the final at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. 

 

Van Assche, who was born in Belgium but moved to Belgium when he was three years old, broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead and served out the first set to 15. Van Assche won 12 of the last 14 points. 

Fils hit a couple of big forehands to earn three break points at 2-1 15-40. Van Assche saved one break point with a volley, but Fils converted his second chance to open up a 3-1 lead, as Van Assche netted a backhand. Fils served out with a hold at 15 to level the match at one set apiece. 

The first five games of the third set went on serve. Van Assche led 2-3 30-40 on Fils’serve to earn two set points. 

Fils saved them before racing out to a 5-0 lead. Van Assche won his first point with a forehand. Fils earned five set points and closed it out when Van Assche netted a backhand. 

Fils won 22 consecutive points on his first serve until 2-1 in the fourth set. Van Assche faced a match point at 2-3, but Van Assche saved it to force another tie-break. Fils opened up a 4-1 with a mini-break. Van Assche won three points to 4-4 before saving two match points at 4-6 and 5-6. Fils hit a forehand to earn a fourth match point and converted it when Van Assche sent a backhand over the baseline. 

Van Assche beat Fils in the boys’ singles final at 2021 Roland Garros. Fils won his first title in Lyon last May. 

“I played every point trying everything with my forehand, moving very good. I was very happy with the tie-break. Today was a tough match against a great friend. We have known each other since we were nine, so it was a little bit tough and I am happy with the win. I came onto the court with the mindset that I can win. The first set was tough, he was playing very good and defending so well, running very fast. I kept my focus and I am really happy with the win”, said Fils. 

Fils set up a final clash against Hamad Medjedovic, who advanced to the championships match, when Dominic Stricker was forced to withdraw in the second set due to a back injury in the semifinal. 

Medjedovic was leading 4-3 (7-5) 2-1 when Stricker walked to the net and ended the match. 

Medjedovic hit 12 winners to 3 unforced errors. The Serbian player won three matches in the round-robin group. 

Medjedovic won 93% of his first serve points in the first set. Stricker did not drop a point on his first serve. Medjedovic earned his only mini-break to seal the tie-break 7-5. 

Medjedovic earned an early break in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead before Stricker retired from the match. 

Medjedovic reached two semifinals in Gstaad and Astana. He is coached by Viktor Troicki. Stricker advanced to the semifinals at the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. 

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World Tennis League: Swiatek And Medvedev Among Top Names To Play Exhibition Event

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image via ATP Twitter

During the off-season, some of the world’s best players will head to the United Arab Emirates next month to play in a four-day team event. 

 

The World Tennis League (WTL) will host its second edition between December 21-24 at the Yas Island’s Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event features a total of 16 players split into four groups with each of those teams competing for the trophy. Every group will have their own coach and even an owner. 

Earlier this week, organizers confirmed the last players to be added to the line-up. Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz will all play in the event which will feature a combination of singles and mixed doubles matches. Those who have already confirmed their entry include Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

As for who is in what group, the SG Mavericks Kites features Sabalanka, Tsitsipas, Paula Badosa and Grigor Dimitrov. The owners of that team are SG Sports, the sporting arm of APL Apollo Tubes. An Indian-based structural steel tube brand. Their coach will be former Australian Open doubles champion Robert Lindstedt.

Team Eagles will be made up of Medvedev, Rublev, Sofia Kenin and Mirra Andreeva. Their owners are the Punit Balan Group. Balan is an Indian film producer and owner of several sporting teams. They will be coached by John-Laffnie De Jager who has previously worked with the likes of Kevin Anderson, Daniella Hantuchova and Ajla Tomljanovic.

The Honor FX Falcons is named after owners Honor FX features. Rybakina, Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Leylah Fernandez are in that group which will be led by Chris Groh. Groh has previously coached Fritz during his teenage years. 

Finally, The Hawkes team has Swiatek, Hurkacz, Ruud and Caroline Garcia. The team are the only one yet to have an official owner. Sweden’s Simon Aspelin will be their coach. 

“We’re thrilled to be announcing more star names to our exceptional tennis line-up for season two of the World Tennis League,” Rajesh Banga, chairman of the World Tennis League, said.
“These players are of the highest calibre and prominent names around the world so we’re pleased they will be competing in the unique tournament at our new home in Etihad Arena.”

The schedule of the event will be the following:-

DAY ONE: Hawks Vs Honor FX Falcons, Team Eagles Vs SG Mavericks Kites

DAY TWO: Honor FX Falcons Vs SG Mavericks Kites, Team Eagles Vs Team Hawks 

Day Three: Team Eagles Vs Honor FX Falcons, SG Maverick Kites Vs Team Hawks

Day Four: knockout rounds

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Luca Van Assche rallies from two sets to one down to beat Alex Michelsen

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Luca Van Assche came back from two sets to one down to defeat Alex Michelsen 4-3 (7-0) 3-4 (4-7) 3-4 (4-7) 4-1 4-3 (8-6) in 2 hours and 36 minutes at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah in the second longest match in the history of this tournament. 

 

Van Assche and Michelsen went on serve in the first three sets. Both players saved all five break points they faced in the first three sets. 

There were three consecutive breaks in the fourth set. Van Assche earned two of them and served out the set at love in the fifth game. 

Both players traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games of the fifth set. Van Assche earned a chance to serve for the match, but Michelsen pulled back on serve to force a tie-break. 

Van Assche built a 3-0 in the tie-break with an early mini-break. Michelsen saved two match points to draw level to 6-6. Van Assche sealed the win with another mini-break on the second match point. 

“He was playing very well the whole match. It was really close. Not a lot of breaks and it was difficult for me but I am very happy”, said Van Assche. 

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