American tennis player Shelby Rogers, a former world No. 30 and two-time major quarterfinalist, has decided to retire from professional tennis following the upcoming US Open. The 31-year-old made the announcement on her social media channels, expressing gratitude for her career and acknowledging that her body can no longer handle the demands of the sport.
Rogers, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, returned to the tour in January at the Australian Open after six months on the sidelines due to knee surgery. Despite her efforts, she has posted a 5-9 record in 2024. In her heartfelt letter to fans, she wrote, “My dream was to be a professional tennis player, and I can forever tell that little girl we did it.”
The US Open has been the site of many of Rogers’ career highlights. In 2017, she played the longest women’s singles match in the Open Era against Daria Saville, lasting 3 hours and 33 minutes. Three years later, she reached her deepest-ever run to the quarterfinals. Notably, at the 2020 US Open, Rogers saved four match points against Petra Kvitova before losing to eventual champion Naomi Osaka.
Although she never won a WTA singles title, Rogers reached three finals and defeated seven Top 10 opponents during her career. She also contributed to the U.S. team’s Billie Jean King Cup title in 2017.
As she prepares for her final professional event, Rogers will face fellow American Jessica Pegula in the first round of the US Open. Her retirement marks the end of a 15-year career in women’s professional tennis, leaving behind a legacy of determination and memorable moments.
This was her statement:
“When you start playing a sport as a kid, you never think about the ending. You just practice, have fun, and chase your dreams as hard as you can. My dream was to be a professional tennis player, and I can forever tell that little girl we did it (The Lord has truly done more with this dream than I could’ve ever asked or imagined (Eph 3:20), and I give Him all the glory and praise. Jesus has been my foundation and my anchor through this crazy life on tour. I am forever humbled by the blessings and joys He has gifted me through both the highs and lows.
There really aren’t enough words for this moment, but I can confidently say that I have pushed my body to its limit. These last couple of years fighting with injuries and surgeries have been challenging. I always said that if my heart loves it and my body is healthy I would play this sport forever! But now my body is telling me it’s time.
This moment comes for every athlete, and as I reflect on my career, I am beyond grateful for the memories, support, lessons, and love over the years. Tennis and the people I have met along the way have shaped me into the person I am today and helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. It truly took an incredible team behind the scenes to make my dreams a reality. Thank you to each and every one of you that has been a part of my journey, and to the fans that made all of these matches so magical.
My heart will always love this sport, and I hope I can pass along some inspiration to the next generation of players to dream big and keep growing the beautiful game of tennis. I am very much looking forward to this next chapter of my life… but I can’t wait to see y’all in NY for one more US Open!”
Shelby Rogers in 2024
Now the world no.356, the American played her last match on the 17th of August when she capitulated to world no.103 Ana Bogdan 7-6(4) 4-6 6-1 in the qualifications in Cleveland (draw).
Presently, during this year Shelby owns an overall 5-10 record.