Shelby Rogers Hails No.1 Barty After Shock US Open Win - UBITENNIS
Connect with us

Latest news

Shelby Rogers Hails No.1 Barty After Shock US Open Win

After scoring one of the biggest wins of her career, the world No.43 paid a heartfelt tribute to ‘one of her favourite people.’

Published

2 years ago

on

America’s Shelby Rogers has paid tribute to Ash Barty after stunning the world No.1 in the third round of the US Open on Saturday.

 

Rogers, who reached the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows last year, battled her way to a 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(5) win over the Australian in what is her first-ever victory over a world No.1 player. The roller-coaster match saw the 28-year-old battled back from a 2-5 deficit in the decider by breaking Barty twice when she was serving for the win. Whilst the American produced only half the amount of winners compared to her opponent (18-37), she benefitted from Barty’s high unforced error count which amounted to 39.

“I had some tough tournaments before, some tough losses as well after starting the season pretty well. Tennis is very up-and-down. I just wanted to try to find my game again here (at the US Open),” Rogers reflected during her press conference.
“Tennis is funny like that. Right when you’re just like, Why can I not hit a ball in the court, then you do something like this and you love the sport all over again.”

The world No.43 had failed to win back-to-back matches at four consecutive tournaments coming into the US Open. She is yet to win a title of any sort on the WTA Tour but has been runner-up to two tournaments that were held on the clay. She made her WTA debut back in 2010.

It is the first time Rogers has got the better of Barty after losing to her on five previous occasions. At the end of their latest encounter, there was a warm exchange at the net between the two players who have high admiration for each other.

“She is one of the most professional people I’ve ever met in my life, as well as a good person, a funny individual,” Rogers said of the reigning Wimbledon champion. “Just refreshing to see. She’s super down-to-earth. I mean, she is one of my favourite people.
“I was joking before, every time I lost to her, I can’t be mad because she’s such a nice person. It’s like ‘man, she just kicked my butt’. Then it’s like ‘oh, you’re going to find it one day’. She’s always encouraging to everybody around her. She brings up the energy wherever she goes. I can’t say how much respect I have for her and what a great representative she is for women’s tennis.”

Continuing her praise, the American also hailed the recent sacrifices her opponent has made in order to play the sport. Barty hasn’t been back in her native Australia since February and instead opted to set up a base camp in Europe during the summer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, should Barty return home she is required to isolate for two weeks.

“I want to speak to what she’s done this season. I think a lot of people are taking it for granted,” Rogers continued. “She hasn’t been able to go home since February, you guys. That’s insane. I mean, she’s resetting on the road. She’s worked through some injuries on the road. She’s won five titles. She’s remained No. 1. I mean this girl is everything every player wants to be, you know.
“Honestly I could do this for another 20 minutes. But, I mean, yeah, she’s one of my favourite people. Anytime I get to give her a hug, I try to take the moment.”

Meanwhile, Barty labels her opponent as one of the players who she respects the most on Tour.

“There are certain people on the tour that I think no matter the result you know you’re always going to get a genuine handshake, a smile, you’re going to get that genuine respect. For me Shelby has always been one of those people. She’s one that I respect, one of the most that I respect on tour, and she’s an incredible person,” she said.

After recording one of the biggest victories of her career, Rogers faces one of the sports most promising rising stars in the next round at New York. British qualifier Emma Raducanu was in clinical form throughout her third round match as she thrashed Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0, 6-1. The 18-year-old started 2021 ranked 345 in the world but has climbed almost 200 places since then with the help of a surprise run to the fourth round at Wimbledon.

“She’s fearless. She is playing very well and she’s inspired,” Rogers Commented on Raducanu.
“It’s going to be a battle. I am ready for it. It’s really cool to see the younger generation coming up in this tournament, getting some big wins. It’s really impressive.”

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Latest news

Hamad Medjedovic wins the Next Gen Finals title in Jeddah

Published

2 days ago

on

02/12/2023

By

Hamad Medjedovic came back from one set down to beat Arthur Fils 3-4 (6-8) 4-1 4-2 3-4 (9-11) 4-1 after 2 hours and 11 minutes at the Next Gen ATP Finals at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. 

 

Medjedovic hit 38 winners to 21 unforced errors. 

The first set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Medjedovic earned a mini-break to take a 3-2 lead and held two set points at 6-4, but he was not able to convert them. Fils won four consecutive points to win the tie-break 8-6. 

Medjedovic earned a break in the second game to win the second set 4-1. 

Medjedovic becomes the sixth Next Gen ATP Finals champion, joining top 10 players Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The 20-year-old Serbian player is the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history. 

Medjedovic started the third set with an early break in the first game. The Serbian player held on his serve to seal the set 4-2. 

Medjedovic recovered from squandering two match points at 6-4 in a thrilling tie-break of the fourth set at 5-6 and 7-8. Fils saved both chances on second serves and won four of the next five points to win the tie-break 11-9 forcing the match to a deciding set. 

to win the first five-set final in tournament history. The Serbian player won 88% and converted his third match point to clinch the biggest title of his career so far. 

Medjedovic earned a break in the second game of the fifth set. Fils earned himself a penalty point for a smash of his raquet and went down 0-3. Medjedovic held on his next service games and converted his third match point. 

“Two of us from Serbia. Djokovic won the big Masters, the real one, and I won the Next Gen. Obviously it’s a huge thing and I am happy to follow in his footsteps in some way. I can’t believe I have won this title. It’s going to give me a lot of confidence for 2024. Arthur is an amazing player. He is top 40 for a reason”, said Medjedovic. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Elena Rybakina headlines a strong line-up in Adelaide

Published

2 days ago

on

02/12/2023

By

Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen, Carolina Garcia and Angelique Kerber will highlight the Adelaide International, a WTA 500 tournament.

 

Rybakina reached the final at the Adelaide International on her tournament debut in 2022, losing to now retired Ashleigh Barty. Rybakina went on to win her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon later last year. The Kazakh player finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in 2023. 

Zheng won her first WTA 500 title in Zhengzhou and reached the final in Zhuhai, ending the 2023 season at a career-high of world number 15. 

Angelique Kerber will make her come-back to the WTA Tour at the United Cup before playing her first WTA draw in Adelaide. Kerber gave birth to her daughter Liana last February. The German player won titles at the 2016 Australian Open and in Sydney 2018 and reached in Sydney 2014 and in Brisbane 2018. 

Kerber is one of the three former number 1 players, who are making her come-back on the WTA Tour after giving birth to their children. 

Caroline Wozniacki lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff in the Round of 16 at the US Open in her third tournament back. 

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is planning to make her return next January after giving back to her child Shai last July. 

“It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play. So I think some people will be happy with that. I realized that I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me. I don’t know the level of player and I think I have to ease into it. At the very least, I will set myself up for a very good end of the year”, said Osaka.

Continue Reading

Latest news

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

Published

3 days ago

on

01/12/2023

By

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. 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending