U.S. tennis professional Shelby Rogers to retire after U.S. Open: ‘Jesus has been my basis’
By Kevin Mercer Aug 27, 2024
Shelby Rogers on the Miami Open, March 20, 2024. (AP Picture/Rebecca Blackwell)
Right now marks the start of the final professional match for U.S. tennis participant Shelby Rogers.
The 31-year-old introduced Friday on Instagram that the 2024 U.S. Open in New York can be the final skilled match of her tennis profession. Her first-round matchup is Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET towards No. 6-ranked Jessica Pegula of the U.S.
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“While you begin taking part in a sport as a child, you by no means take into consideration the ending,” she wrote. “You simply follow, have enjoyable, and chase your desires as exhausting as you may. My dream was to be knowledgeable tennis participant, and I can ceaselessly inform that little woman we did it!
“The Lord has actually achieved extra with this dream than I may’ve ever requested or imagined (Eph. 3:20), and I give Him all of the glory and reward. Jesus has been my basis and my anchor by means of this loopy life on tour. I’m ceaselessly humbled by the blessings and joys He has gifted me by means of each the highs and lows.”
Rogers cited latest accidents and subsequent surgical procedures as the rationale she’s retiring, and he or she expressed gratitude for all who made her tennis profession attainable.
“My coronary heart will at all times love this sport,” she concluded, “and I hope I can go alongside some inspiration to the following era of gamers to dream large and continue to grow the attractive sport of tennis. I’m very a lot wanting ahead to this subsequent chapter of my life… however I can’t wait to see y’all in NY for yet another US Open!”
Many fellow professional tennis gamers commented on Rogers’ put up, together with U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff, winner of last year’s U.S. Open.
“So unhappy we’ll miss you on (the WTA) tour!” Gauff commented. “Your spirit, kindness, and the sharing of your religion. Nevertheless, I do know this subsequent chapter will probably be nothing in need of all of the superb belongings you deserve! Can’t wait to observe your final dance!”
Rogers enters her closing match with a 307–262 lifetime report throughout the ITF and WTA Excursions. She received six singles titles and two doubles titles on the ITF Girls’s World Tennis Tour, and he or she reached the quarterfinals at each the 2016 French Open and 2020 U.S. Open.
All through her profession, she’s been vocal about her religion in Christ. She posts continuously about her religion on Instagram and writes in her bio that she’s a Christian. She additionally references the Bible verse Ephesians 2:8, which reads, “For it’s by grace you could have been saved, by means of religion — and this isn’t from yourselves, it’s the present of God.”
Rogers has written devotionals for Sports Spectrum Magazine — for the Fall 2023, Winter 2023 and Summer time 2024 editions — and appeared as a visitor on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in May 2023. She talked on the podcast about her truest id being in Christ, the Bible research she’s been part of with different gamers on tour, and the way God works by means of music.
“I really like worship,” she stated. “I really like actually connecting with the phrases of a music. … Music is simply tremendous highly effective for me. It’s a approach I can actually meditate on His phrases and really feel His presence somewhat bit stronger.”
Rogers grew up attending church and Sunday College each week, and he or she credit her mother with instilling Biblical values in her and her sister, Sabra. But it wasn’t till she moved away from residence as a professional tennis participant, on the age of 17, when she actually acknowledged all God had achieved to save lots of her.
“I’m not good,” she stated. “I would like a Savior and He’s my Savior and that’s the place I put my belief, my religion, and that’s what I consider in, and I carry that with me daily. I really feel His presence with me and it’s simply been actually instrumental.”
“All I can do is worship.”
Don’t miss at the moment’s episode on the pod with skilled tennis participant @Shelby_Rogers_!https://t.co/QCle1Bxwmt pic.twitter.com/Xcvs3zyj27
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) May 8, 2023
“You don’t need to show your self to God,” Rogers stated on the podcast about her worth past the tennis court docket. “You don’t need to earn your salvation; you don’t need to earn His grace. That’s a free present that He’s given you, and also you don’t need to carry out for Him. You simply need to exit, get pleasure from your self, and use these presents He’s given you.
“… God isn’t these worldly comparisons, He’s your coronary heart.”
Rogers’ time as knowledgeable tennis participant within the public eye could also be drawing to a detailed, however as she stated, she will look ahead to the following chapter in her life. That’s as a result of her Heavenly Father, who saved her and loves her and calls her His personal, has already written it for her good and His glory.
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