NEW YORK -- At the beginning of the US Open, there were 22 American women in draw. There were rising stars, teens phenoms, and even a former champion.
On Saturday night, however, only one countrywoman was left, and she honestly wasn't any of those things.
After defeating world No. In a thrilling third-set tiebreaker, Ash Barty, the world No. 1, was defeated by Shelby Rogers (28 years old) and she was left the last American woman standing.
Rogers trailed 5-2 in the last set, and her fate with her peers seemed sealed. It was the first time that an American woman would be in Round 16 of the Open Era.
Rogers kept winning the match, game after game, with a remarkable variety of games and an unstoppable energy, all the while being supported by her home crowd. She was stunned when the match ended at 6-1, 2-6 and 7-6 (5). In jubilation, she raised her arms high above her head, then put her hands over her lips in disbelief. She couldn't stop smiling as she made her way around Arthur Ashe Stadium waving to all those present.
Shelby Rogers shocked even herself when she defeated No. In the third round of the US Open, No. 1 Ash Barty. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
The smile remained even after more than an hour at her news conference.
Rogers stated to reporters, "I am stunned." Rogers said that his heart rate remains elevated. That win made me very happy.
Many of the top American women, including Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin, couldn't play in the US Open because they were sick or injured. Few would have predicted Rogers, who is ranked No. As the number 43, Rogers was the one who took over the reins. With players such as Sloane Stephens, a rising star Coco Gauff.
Rogers' win on Saturday is not surprising, even though she has flown under the radar. Rogers has had some of her greatest results since the return to tour last year after a five-month hiatus due to the pandemic. After defeating Serena Williams in her first tournament after the break, Rogers reached her first quarterfinal at 2020 US Open. Petra Kvitova, the 6th seed, was defeated in the fourth round. Although she lost to Naomi Osaka, the eventual champion, her experience in the second week gave her renewed confidence.
For the first time in 2021, she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. She also achieved a career-high No. She reached 40 during the summer.
She still came in with a 0-5 record against Barty. Barty has been one the most consistent players on tour, winning five titles in 2021. Rogers had never been able to answer Barty's questions after they had met four times in this season.
She used her previous meetings to her advantage on Saturday.
Rogers stated, "I think tonight going to the court I told myself that I didn't want the same loss as the five previous times I played her." Rogers said, "I tried to do things differently. I added some high balls to the first set. She won't miss a slice very often so I was patient. That I am very aware of.
She raised her level in the second and third sets. She's No. She's the No. 1 player in the world, and that's a good thing. But then I wanted to hit the ball harder and find winners. This is the kind of tennis I enjoy, and that's what she wants. I will miss the chance to be redirected and finessed by her. I was happy tonight and very proud of my problem-solving skills, if that is possible. It worked out in the end.
Shelby Rogers shared her victory with the crowd by taking a selfie postmatch with fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
They shared a warm embrace after the match and even greeted each other as Barty left her news conference. Rogers was about to start speaking. Barty was admired by her WTA tour colleagues for her positive attitude and enthusiasm despite numerous setbacks, including a knee injury that left her paralysed for almost a year and 2018, surgery that required her to be ejected.
Barty stated, "It's frustrating in tennis that there is a winner or loser every day. But sometimes you don't mind losing" Shelby is a great player for me because of her personality and character.
Rogers will face Emma Raducanu, 18, on Monday. She holds a spot for her second quarterfinals. Although she has not reached the semifinals of a major, she was not thinking about Saturday and wasn't concerned about being the only hope for the country in the women's draw. Rogers just wants to win it all, one opponent at a time.
Rogers stated, "I'm not trying [to be] the last one because there's lots of other players in draw too that aren’t from America that you're trying to beat." I'm just moving forward. Focus on the doubles tomorrow and then move on to singles.
