NEW YORK — On her very first day of the subsequent chapter of her life, Shelby Rogers woke as much as a textual content message from her sister: “Pleased first day of retirement,” it learn.
Rogers, 31, had formally completed her profession on the US Open, and the message was the primary second by which her resolution felt actual. It was pouring rain outdoors of her dwelling in Florida — she and her husband had flown again from New York following her remaining loss in combined doubles the day earlier than — and she or he would not have been capable of exit to the observe courtroom even when she needed to.
However she did not go to the gymnasium both, as she usually would. As a substitute they picked up their canines, who had been boarding whereas they had been away, and returned dwelling to their new actuality that also did not fairly really feel actual.
“There’s at all times that few days the place you possibly can get well and take off [after a tournament],” Rogers instructed ESPN later that day. “So I really feel like I am nonetheless in that in-between interval. However when my sister texted me, I used to be like, ‘Wait, what am I imagined to do? What does that even imply?’ I feel the longer I’m going with out working towards or enjoying a event, it will really feel just a little extra life like.
“However for now I am excited. I am blissful.”
After 14 years on the tour, a career-high rating of No. 30, two main quarterfinals appearances and a 2017 Billie Jean King Cup championship as a part of the American group, Rogers had identified for a lot of the season that 2024 can be her final. She had torn her meniscus throughout the grass season in 2023 and regardless of her greatest efforts to return to full well being, a slew of different accidents adopted. As the continued bodily struggles continued to mount, her pleasure for the game lessened. Being on the tennis courtroom now not felt the identical.
She knew it was time.
However whereas some gamers announce their impending retirement or endure a farewell tour, Rogers needed none of that. As a self-described “very emotional particular person,” she knew having to formally say goodbye to each event she performed would merely be an excessive amount of. She determined the US Open can be her remaining occasion — the place the place she recorded one of many largest wins of her life in 2021 in opposition to then No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, and reached the 2020 quarterfinals. However she wasn’t even positive if she would share the information till after the event was over.
“I used to be truthfully going forwards and backwards debating whether or not I ought to simply sort of quietly go by the wayside, however then I began to consider all of the people who had supported me and been in my group behind the scenes, the tournaments, everybody,” Rogers stated. “And I used to be like, nicely, I really feel like I additionally need to share a second with them and have a very public second for all the people who for many years have been part of my profession, followers included. So I used to be like, ‘Okay, the US Open appears acceptable.’ And truthfully, I am actually blissful I did it. I could not have written it a greater means if I needed to.”
Three days earlier than the principle draw received underway in New York, Rogers made the announcement on social media. It was rapidly met by congratulatory phrases from followers and her friends alike. Coco Gauff commented on how a lot she would miss Rogers’ “spirit, kindness and the sharing of [her] religion.” Bethanie Mattek-Sands stated she had “embodied having fun with the journey.” Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and numerous different wrote how blissful they had been for her.
In her remaining singles match, performed below the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rogers performed eventual finalist Jessica Pegula, somebody who she had performed in opposition to since their teenage years. Pegula after all received the match 6-4, 6-3, however collectively they stood on the courtroom after the match and celebrated Rogers’ profession. A video was performed on the board, Rogers was offered with a photograph collage of moments from the event and Pegula cried as she spoke about her longtime buddy.
However Rogers stunned even herself as she remained composed and made it by her personal speech to the gang with out breaking down.
“I feel that was the Lord’s doing truthfully, as a result of each different second in my profession I’ve simply been a ball of tears and I can not clarify that second another means,” Rogers stated. “And I positively did not have on my bingo card that Jessie can be crying greater than me but it surely was actually candy.”
The subsequent day Rogers received her opening doubles match with associate Petra Martic however they misplaced within the second spherical. Her remaining match got here on the fifth day of the event in combined doubles. Paired with Robert Galloway, her profession formally reached its conclusion with a loss to the eventual champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
Rogers wished she had just a few extra wins throughout the event however left New York with no regrets. She nonetheless is not fully positive what she’s going to do subsequent however is aware of she needs to remain concerned with the game — whether or not by tv commentary, working with youth tennis in her native Charleston, South Carolina, or one thing else — and was most wanting ahead to easily being at dwelling.
“Not being in a unique place each week sounds actually thrilling,” Rogers stated. “Being dwelling with my household, with my puppies, simply having a set schedule for an honest period of time.”
At all times often called one of many friendliest gamers on tour, Rogers generally wonders what may have occurred throughout her tennis profession if she had a unique demeanor. However wanting again, she would not change a factor.
“There’s positively part of me that was like, ‘Oh, perhaps if I used to be more durable and did not have that nicest-girl-on-tour repute, perhaps I’d have received extra matches,'” she stated. “However truthfully, wanting again, that is one of the crucial essential issues that I will take away with me. I felt that I wanted to get together with the opposite women and make friendships and actually perceive a few of their tales and the place they had been coming from and be capable of be weak as a result of we see one another each week.
“For me to have the ability to take pleasure in it, I wanted to be 100% myself. I could not be one particular person outdoors of the courtroom and somebody totally different within the locker room. So it was at all times simply, that is who I’m. I can not do it another means. That is how I do know to do it. And that is how I went about it.”