Google News Ashleigh Barty offers kind words for Shelby Rogers following shock US Open exit
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 7307
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty offered kind words for world No. 43 Shelby Rogers following her shock loss to the American. Barty, seeded at No. 1, exited the US Open in the third round as Rogers earned a 6-2 1-6 7-6 (5) win over the Australian.
It was the sixth meeting between the two and for the first time Barty ended up on the losing side. "There are certain people on the tour that I think no matter the result you know you're always going to get a genuine handshake, a smile, you're going to get that genuine respect.
For me Shelby has always been one of those people," Barty said of Rogers following her Us Open defeat, per WTA Insider. "She's one that I respect, one of the most that I respect on tour, and she's an incredible person. Tonight she showed a lot of fight.
"I could see she was enjoying herself. I think that's the most important thing for both of us, we had a lot of fun out there. I know regardless of the result, it never changes our relationship, and that's really special when you've got someone who is just a class act off and on the court."
Barty 'sad' someone had to lose the match
"It sucks in tennis that there's a winner and loser every single day, but sometimes you don't mind losing to certain people.
I think Shelby in a sense of her personality and character, she's certainly one of those for me," Barty noted. Barty was up by a double break in the third set and she twice failed to serve out for the match. Barty paid the price for missing out on her chances as Rogers won the third-set tie-break to cause an upset.
Barty, who recently claimed her maiden Wimbledon title, continued her run of bad results at the US Open as she has never made it past the round-of-16 at the tournament.