Rogers rallies deep into Charleston Open, walks away with ring

Shelby Rogers has been a part of the Credit One Charleston Open and its predecessors for such a long time, she sounds as if she can almost predict the tournament’s weather.

 

“Charleston; you just never know what’s gonna happen,” Rogers told media members earlier last week. “It can be humid, a little bit dry, rain, sun, cold, hot. So that really affects the surface a lot and we have to just adjust every single time to go on the court.”

 

The weather, which seemed to be ordered up by the chamber of commerce early last week, turned nasty just in time for last Saturday’s semifinals and Sunday’s championship and was a big talking point during the weekend.

 

Rogers’ performance, along with another hometown star, Emma Navarro, also were big talking points as Credit One Stadium hosted the 51st edition of the event.

 

Rogers, who was engaged to U.S. hockey player Johnny Slavik just days before the main draw commenced, posted two gut-check victories in this year’s event with back-to-back three-set victories over 13-seeded Danielle Collins and Caty McNally. Both matches were against fellow Americans and played at night.

 

However, Rogers’ run ended when last year’s COCO champion, Belinda Bencic ended Rogers’ run with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory in a Round of 16 showdown on April 6.

 

“It’s just been a great week for me,” Rogers said. “A lot of emotions, obviously on and off the court. 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,” Rogers added. “So, I really just cherish that time, and they always text me and say, ‘We’re proud of you, win or lose.’”

 

Rogers, who turned 30 last October, entered this year’s Charleston Open 13-9. Her victory over Collins was the 300th victory of her career and ended the tournament with a World No. 40 ranking.

 

Meanwhile, Navarro played in the Charleston Open for the second year in a row after a short, albeit successful, career as a member of the University of Virginia women’s team. She won an NCAA singles championship her freshman year in 2021 and turned pro in time to play on Daniel Island last April.

 

This year, she faced the always formidable Madison Keys, who entered the tourney as the No. 9 seed.

 

Navarro, who entered the main draw as a wild card, put up a fight against Keys. But Keys was too much, posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

 

It was a special moment for Navarrao, who prepped at Ashley Hall in Charleston and honed her tennis skills on the courts of Charleston.

 

“It’s always very special to play at home and be able to play in front of a lot of people that I see on a daily basis,” Navarro said. “I feel very honored to be playing for Charleston, and to be able to come out here and hopefully play some good tennis for the fans means a lot to me.”