US Open 2021: American Shelby Rogers epic comeback stuns World No 1 Ashleigh Barty in third round

American Shelby Rogers staged a comeback for the ages shocking world number one Ashleigh Barty 6-2 1-6 7-6(5) on September 4 (local time) in the third round of the U.S. Open.

The 43rd-ranked Rogers recovered from a 5-2 deficit in the third set to push the affair into a tiebreak, securing the biggest upset of the tournament thus far in front of an electric New York crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I just tried to fight for every point. That’s so cliche, I’m sorry. You guys were awesome. I didn’t want to leave,” said Rogers.

“I just said, you know, make balls, try to stay in this match, can’t get any worse, you lost to her every time. So, try something different.”

From 2-5 to 5-5, @shelby_rogers_ has the crowd on Ashe going crazy! pic.twitter.com/63hulYqakq

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2021

There were early signs of trouble for Barty, who handed Rogers a break with four double faults in the third game, and got fewer than half of her first serves in as she committed 17 unforced errors during the first set.

The Wimbledon champion found her form in the second set, getting a critical break in the fourth game with a forehand winner and again converting on break point in the sixth as Rogers whacked the ball into the net.

Up two breaks in the final set, Barty appeared poised to walk away with the win but couldn’t hang on as her stellar 2021 crashed to an end.

Believe it, Shelby!

Shelby Rogers upsets No. 1 Ash Barty in a thrilling comeback in Ashe! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/bPkjsAfNlO — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2021

An astonished Rogers held her hands to her face as she clinched the match, defeating Barty for the first time in six meetings.

“I was just trying to stay in the point longer than Ash. She was handling my pace really well tonight. I felt like the harder I hit the ball, the better she hit,” said Rogers, the only American woman remaining in the tournament.

.@Shelby_Rogers_ has no interest in looking ahead to her next match after beating the No. 1 player in the world  pic.twitter.com/Jz3YDrM4Tk — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2021

It was the second major upset of the women’s tournament at Flushing Meadows, after 18-year-old Leylah Fernandez defeated four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka on September 3.

Rogers will face Britain’s teen phenom Emma Raducanu in the fourth round.