Rogers stuns second seed Sevastova

8 January 2017, by Leigh Rogers

American Shelby Rogers has eliminated second seed Anastasija Sevastova in the opening round of Hobart International 2017. Rogers, the world No.59, scored a 6-2 1-6 6-4 victory on Centre Court today.

The 24-year-old American came out firing, breaking in the opening game then sealing a double break in the fifth game with a forehand return winner. Dropping only five points on serve, Rogers quickly raced through the first set in 30 minutes.

Sevastova, the world No.34 and a US Open quarterfinalist in 2016, was struggling to control Rogers’ penetrating ground strokes. Four double faults in the opening set did not help.

The momentum quickly swung in the second set though, as Sevastova began to dictate rallies by switching up the pace and rhythm. As the wind also increased, Rogers was getting frustrated as the Latvian took the second set.

Sevastova used her momentum to open up a 4-2 lead in the deciding set – but Rogers fought back by breaking to love in the eighth game to level. It proved a turning point in the match.

“I just had to take my chances,” Rogers said on how she turned the final set around. “I was playing safe down the middle, the wind got me a little tentative I think, so I just had to move the ball around a little bit more. She’s not going to miss if you don’t do anything. She’s a great player and I knew it was going to be tough today.”

Rogers won the final four games of the match to secure a dream result in her Hobart International debut.

“This is my first year here and I was hearing from all the other players that it can be cold, rainy and windy – but the last couple of days have been absolutely perfect, so I was like ‘what are you guys talking about? This place is amazing’,” she laughed. “It did get a little bit windy today but I think we all expect that coming here, so you prepare for that.”

Rogers, a French Open quarterfinalist in 2016, has started her 2017 season in style. She defeated last year’s Hobart International finalist Eugenie Bouchard in Brisbane last week, then pushed world No.14 Elina Svitolina to three sets in the second round.

“It’s been great so far,” Rogers, who reached a career-high ranking of No.49 in August 2016, said of her form. “We all work really hard in the preseason and hope for the best starting the new year. I’m just trying to get as many matches as I can before going to Melbourne and the results are a bonus, but I’m happy with the way I am playing.”