Interview: Shelby Rogers – 3R (lost to [4] Belinda Bencic 4-6 7-5 6-2)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Third round – [4] Belinda Bencic (SUI) def. Shelby Rogers (USA) 4-6 7-5 6-2
THE MODERATOR: Shelby, obviously a very hard-fought battle today, but what are your main takeaways from the match?
SHELBY ROGERS: Yeah. I thought I, you know, again, left it all out there. So I’m really proud of myself for that. Again, fighting back in the first. And entertaining, I guess, has been the theme this week, but I thought I problem-solved through a lot of stuff out there today. I think I broke her for the first time ever in all the times we’ve played. So proud of that. One day I’ll get her.
Yeah, it’s just been a great week for me, a lot of emotions, obviously on and off the court, and I think even being a little sore, like after a quick turnaround last night, I — well, Belinda, too, but I thought we had a great battle, as usual. Every time we play it seems to go the distance.
Question: Shelby, did you just simply run out of gas with the amount of sets you played compared to the amount of sets she played this week?
SHELBY ROGERS: No. I definitely still felt like I had some left. I thought she just raised her level, especially there right at the beginning of the third. And then when she’s got freedom in the score, she’s — I mean, her ranking, for a reason, you know, she’s pretty confident, and one of the best at timing the ball on the court, takes away time from the component, moves forward, plays super aggressive. And I thought some of the high balls I was mixing in she was timing a little better and just got a little more confident as the match went on.
And I would have liked to have had those ones that I missed by this much a couple of times to go the other way, but that’s the fun and the tough part about tennis. So, yeah, I would have liked to make a couple different decisions starting off in that third set, but it is what it is.
Question: I know you just came off the court. What are your main takeaways from this week going forward the rest of the clay season?
SHELBY ROGERS: Oh, man. Yeah, I mean, I’ll take a little time to reflect and build, but, again, definitely better start than last year, if you want to compare it that way, but I’m really happy with where my game is right now. Like I have chances in every match I’m playing, so that’s always encouraging. I feel like I’m moving pretty well out there on the clay, so I’m just going to try to keep loving the surface and hopefully it’ll love me back.
Question: Nine straight sets here? Three three-set matches. Is that going to be what you’re going to remember, or the proposal or what?
SHELBY ROGERS: Yeah. I mean I think all around it’s just been a great week for me. Every time I come back I am able to create so many new and special memories. I think the time with my family and my friends is always so special for me here, and that’s what I remember the most, because I don’t always get to see them while I’m traveling all year. So I really just do cherish that time, and they always text me and say, we’re proud of you, win or lose. We’re so happy to be able to watch you in person, which is — again, I’m just super grateful to have this tournament, have that opportunity for them to watch me. So I think I’m glad I got to spend a lot more time on the court than I did last year. I’m super happy about that, but also, yeah, the time off the court. That didn’t really answer the question, but both.
Question: Shelby, congratulations on a great week here in Charleston. I was just wondering what does the rest of your clay court season look like.
SHELBY ROGERS: I would say it’s an okay week. But thank you. The rest of my clay court season looks like rest, recovery and then I go to Madrid. So I go to Europe and start that swing.