Shelby Rogers is an American professional tennis player who was born on October 13, 1992, in Mount Pleasant, United States. Following her sister’s influence and therefore picking up a racquet aged just 6, it quickly became evident that Selby was set for a career in the tennis spotlight.
Eager to reach the WTA Tour, Rogers turned pro in 2009, with her WTA main draw debut coming shortly after. The US Open proved to be her first professional tournament appearance, with the American getting a wildcard into the first round, where she eventually fell at the first hurdle to Shuai Peng.
She was to wait until 2013 before recording her first WTA-level win, which came at the Strasbourg Open after she defeated Marta Domachowska. Following another wildcard, this time into the Roland Garros, Rogers got her first Grand Slam win under her belt, beating Irena Pavlovic.
Progress ensued, with her reaching her first final on the WTA Tour in 2014, ultimately losing to Andrea Petkovic. Testament to the distance she had come was the fact that in that season, she played in the main draw of all four of the Grand Slams, as well as breaking through into the Top 100.
A couple of years down the line Rogers had managed to maintain the rhythm which had got her to where she was. She started 2016 well, reaching her second WTA final before going on to get to her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal at that season’s Roland Garros.
It was a feat she was able to replicate a bit closer to home in 2020 when she equaled that performance at her home Slam. Sustained wins and positive results meant that she sailed into the Top 40 in 2021, a climb that ultimately saw her reach her career-high ranking of world number 30 in 2022.
Despite not having won a WTA title, Rogers has been an ever-present name amongst the world’s best for years. This longevity has earned her the accolades she deserves and a spot in the hearts of fans.
