Rogers reaches her highest WTA ranking yet, World No. 40

Shelby Rogers had some unforgettable moments in Grand Slam tennis events in 2021, scoring big victories while reaching rock star status during a spectacular run during the U.S. Open.

 

Rogers made a statement this year as she recorded her best WTA ranking, World No. 40, while topping a million dollars in prize money for the first time in her career.

 

But Rogers, who turned 29 on Oct. 13, is more than just tennis. She received her degree from Indiana University East in an August ceremony and found time to visit a school virtually when she was in Indian Wells, Calif. to compete in the BNP Paribas Open.

 

Rogers “zoomed” into a fourth-grade class at Gerald Ford Elementary and, as a true ambassador of the sport, fielded questions from the students.

 

“They are so smart,” Rogers said of the students. “They were so much fun. They are so curious and ask great questions. They ask better questions than sportswriters.”

 

Rogers had another solid performance in the California desert. The BNP Paribas Open is usually held in March, but was contested in October this year because of COVID restrictions. 

 

Rogers had some impressive victories in Indians Wells, including a massive comeback to defeat U.S. Open finalist and No. 23 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) to reach the quarterfinals.

 

“I thought it was an incredible battle,” Rogers said in her post-match press conference. “I thought we both played really well at times, and it was a sort of tug-of-war kind of match, one that’s really fun to play actually. It’s a special sort of challenge.”

 

In the quarterfinal, which was played on Rogers’ birthday, Rogers started well and seemed poised to reach her first Indian Wells semifinal.

 

But Jelena Ostapenko brought Rogers’s time in California to an end with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory. For a while, it appeared that Rogers might reach the semifinal. She led Ostapenko 3-1 in the decisive third set and led 40-0 in the fifth game. But Ostapenko battled back and scored consecutive break points. She went on to win the last five games — and the match.

 

“I knew Jelena was having a good week,” Rogers said. “I had a chance for more success, but it didn’t happen. I could have won that match. But there were matches I won that I could have lost.” 

 

In the 2021 Grand Slams, Rogers reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, and the third rounds of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She lost in the first round at Roland Garros.

 

“On paper, 2021 was a very good year, not a great year,” Rogers said. “I had some big moments. Of course, there was the bubble and the pandemic and I did the best I could. That’s what I’m most proud of. That’s all I can ask of myself.”

 

She plans to play World Team Tennis, which commences in November and is already working on the logistics of playing in the Australian Open. She plans to play in Charleston as well when the CreditOne Charleston Open is contested April 2-10, 2022.