Life after tennis: American star Shelby Rogers adjusts to early days of retirement

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: “Glad 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 determination felt actual. It was pouring rain outdoors of her dwelling in Florida — she and her husband had flown again from New York following her ultimate loss in blended doubles the day earlier than — and she or he would not have been capable of exit to the observe court docket even when she needed to.

However she did not go to the fitness center both, as she usually would. As a substitute they picked up their canine, who had been boarding whereas they have been away, and returned dwelling to their new actuality that also did not fairly really feel actual.

“There’s all the time that few days the place you may get better 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 speculated to do? What does that even imply?’ I believe the longer I am going with out training or enjoying a event, it will really feel somewhat extra practical.

“However for now I am excited. I am comfortable.”

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 staff, Rogers had identified for a lot of the season that 2024 can be her final. She had torn her meniscus in the course of 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 continuing bodily struggles continued to mount, her pleasure for the game lessened. Being on the tennis court docket not felt the identical.

She knew it was time.

However whereas some gamers announce their impending retirement or bear a farewell tour, Rogers needed none of that. As a self-described “very emotional individual,” 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 ultimate occasion — the place the place she recorded one of many largest wins of her life in 2021 towards then No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, and reached the 2020 quarterfinals. However she wasn’t even certain if she would share the information till after the event was over.

“I used to be actually going backwards and forwards 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 staff behind the scenes, the tournaments, everybody,” Rogers mentioned. “And I used to be like, effectively, 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 actually, I am actually comfortable I did it. I could not have written it a greater means if I needed to.”

Three days earlier than the principle draw acquired underway in New York, Rogers made the announcement on social media. It was shortly 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 mentioned she had “embodied having fun with the experience.” Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and numerous different wrote how comfortable they have been for her.

In her ultimate singles match, performed beneath the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rogers performed eventual finalist Jessica Pegula, somebody who she had performed towards since their teenage years. Pegula in fact gained the match 6-4, 6-3, however collectively they stood on the court docket 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 shocked even herself as she remained composed and made it by means of her personal speech to the group with out breaking down.

“I believe that was the Lord’s doing actually, 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 some other means,” Rogers mentioned. “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 following day Rogers gained her opening doubles match with associate Petra Martic however they misplaced within the second spherical. Her ultimate match got here on the fifth day of the event in blended 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 a couple of extra wins in the course of the event however left New York with no regrets. She nonetheless is not solely certain what she’s going to do subsequent however is aware of she needs to remain concerned with the game — whether or not by means of 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 special place each week sounds actually thrilling,” Rogers mentioned. “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 might have occurred throughout her tennis profession if she had a special demeanor. However wanting again, she would not change a factor.

“There’s positively part of me that was like, ‘Oh, possibly if I used to be harder and did not have that nicest-girl-on-tour popularity, possibly I’d have gained extra matches,'” she mentioned. “However actually, wanting again, that is some of the 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 have been coming from and be capable to be susceptible as a result of we see one another each week.

“For me to have the ability to get pleasure from it, I wanted to be 100% myself. I could not be one individual outdoors of the court docket and somebody completely different within the locker room. So it was all the time simply, that is who I’m. I can not do it some other means. That is how I do know to do it. And that is how I went about it.”