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

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2 years ago

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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.”

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Elena Rybakina beats Jessica Pegula to reach the Miami Open final

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4 hours ago

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31/03/2023

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World number 7 Elena Rybakina beat world number 3 Jessica Pegula 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to reach her second consecutive final at the Miami Open. The Kazakh player moves one win of becoming the fifth player to win back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami completing the Sunshine Double. 

 

Rybakina leads the WTA Tour in match wins in 2023 with a record of 21 wins to just 3 defeats. 

Rybakina needed three sets in her first two matches of the tournament and saved a match point against Paula Badosa before beating Elise Mertens, Martina Trevisan and Jessica Pegula in straight sets. 

Pegula broke Rybakina three times and served for the first set twice at 5-4 and 6-5. Rybakina won the final five points from 2-3 down to clinch the tie-break 7-3 improving her perfect record in tie-breaks to 7-0 this season. 

After a second rain delay Pegula rallied from 0-40 down to hold serve at deuce. The US player earned a break before consolidating it with a hold of serve for 3-0. Rybakina won four consecutive games from 2-4 down to seal the win after 1 hour and 51 minutes. 

“Jessica played really well some moments. It’s not easy to play against her because she keeps the ball really low, and it’s difficult. I was playing today better when I was down. I was doing everything correct”, said Rybakina. 

Rybakina is the first player to serve 10 aces or more in five matches in the same tornament since Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2016. 

Rybakina will face the winner of the second semifinal between Petra Kvitova and Sorana Cristea. 

Kvitova beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 3-6 6-3 after 2 hours and 12 minutes to reach the semifinal at the Miami Open for the first time in her career. 

Kvitova earned an early break and close out the first set with an ace on her third set point. Alexandrova hit a backhand crosscourt return to break serve for 4-2 in the sixth game of the second set and held on her serve to draw the match level at one set apiece. 

Kvitova saved a break point to hold serve for 4-3 in the third set. The Czech player hit a crosscourt forehand to earn a break for 5-3 and converted her second match point in the next game to seal the win. 

“I am glad that my serve helped me in important moments, especially in the third set. The chance for the break came. I took it, and it was very emotional in the end. I am very happy that I found a way to win it”, said Kvitova. 

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Carlos Alcaraz continues his quest for the Sunshine Double with a win against Taylor Fritz in Miami

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6 hours ago

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31/03/2023

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Carlos Alcaraz beat Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-2 to reach his second consecutive semifinal at the Miami Open. Alcaraz continues his quest for the Sunshine Double, a sweep of Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami in the same year. Alcaraz converted three of his five break points. Both players ended the match with 20 winners, but Alcaraz made 13 unforced errors to Fritz’s 28. 

 

Alcaraz earned an immediate break in the opening game. Fritz brought up two break points in the second game, but Alcaaraz saved them with half-volleys  to hold on his serve. The Spanish player started the second set with an early break in the first game of the opening set and won the final three games including a break in the seventh game to seal the second set 6-2 after 1 hour and 18 minutes. 

“A little bit of nerves at the beginning of the match. It was new for me, playing against him. I knew that I had to play my game, the way that I was playing the previous matches, a high level for me. Of course I am very happy with the way I started the match, with no mistakes and with a lot of power. It was a key for me to break his serve at the beginning and then play the game”, said Alcaraz. 

Alcaraz has improved his seasonal record to 18 wins to 1 defeats. The Spaniard set up a blockbuster semifinal match against Sinner in a re-match of this year’s Indian Wells semifinal. Alcaraz leads 3-2 in his five head-to-head matches and beat his Italian rival in Indian Wells. Sinner defeated Alcaraz twice last year at Wimbledon and in the Umag final. 

If Karen Khachanov beats Danil Medvedev in the other semifinal, he will overtake Fritz at world number 10 in the ATP Ranking. 

Fritz holds a record of 13 wins to 3 defeats this season. He won the Delray Beach title and reached the quarter final in Indian Wells. 

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Danil Medvedev sets up all-Russian semifinal against Karen Khachanov in Miami

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16 hours ago

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31/03/2023

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Danil Medvedev edged US qualifier Christopher Eubanks 6-3 7-5 in a rain disrupted match to reach the semifinals at the Miami Open for the first time. 

 

Medvedev has reached the semifinals at a fifth consecutive ATP tournament after winning three consecutive titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai and reaching the final in Indian Wells. Medvedev has won 22 of his past 23 matches. 

Medvedev saved break points in the fourth game. The match was delayed by rain for half an hour. As the match resumed Medvedev reeled off the next four games to close out the first set 6-3.

Medvedev broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Eubanks broke straight back for 3-4. Medvedev broke again in the 12th game as Eubanks mishit a return on the third match point. 

“I did not play my best tennis before the rain delay. The rain helped go out and have more energy. It helped me and I only played better and better, apart from one bad game on my serve, but it happens”, said Medvedev. 

Medvedev set up a semifinal clash against his compatrion Karen Khachanov, who edged past Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 6-2. Khachanov reached his first ATP Masters semifinal since 2019. 

Cerundolo earned the first break of the match in the fifth game of the first set, but Medvedev broke straight back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Khachanov broke for the second time in the eighth game to close out the first set 6-3. 

Khachanov broke twice in the first and fifth games to win the second set 6-2. Cerundolo won just four of 18 points and made 22 unforced errors. Khachanov hit 22 winners to Cerundolo’s 19.

Cerundolo entered this match with a 8-1 record at the Miami Open after reaching the semifinal in last year’s edition. 

Khachanov has moved up to 11th in the ATP Live Ranking and will return to the top 10 if he wins the title. He reached the semifinal at the Australian Open last September. 

“At the end of the day it was a question of finding rhythm. At the beginning, it was pretty windy and I could not where the wind was coming through. I then started to hit through the ball more and I felt better and better. After I broke him back I felt I was on a good rise and felt that I could not miss. That is good feeling to have during a match”, said Khachanov. 

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