Shelby Rogers: From a ball girl to Roland Garros quarterfinalist

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Wilson Blade 9

Charleston‘s Shelby Rogers is making her dreams come true this fortnight in Paris, reaching her first ever Grand Slam quarterfinals by dispatching a number of big names, while in childhood she worked as a ball kid at her home tournament now called the Volvo Car Open.

Shelby Rogers ball kid
Eight-year-old Shelby Rogers

Celebrating the great result of their darling, the Volvo Car Open tweeted this 2001 photo of Rogers, who was about to hand the flowers to tournament champion Jennifer Capriati. How cute!

Shelby Rogers into RG quarterfinals
When you make it to Roland Garros quarterfinals, beating the player who had enjoyed the most consistent claycourt season of anyone in the draw.

Fast forward 15 years and the 23-year-old Rogers, ranked No.108 in the world, dispatches seed No.17 Karolina Pliskova in the first round, Charleston finalist Elena Vesnina in the second, seed No.10 Petra Kvitova in the third and seed No.25 Irina-Camelia Begu in the fourth to become the lowest ranked player since 2012 to make it this far at the French Open. Rogers had never been past the third round at a major.

Shelby Rogers ecstatic to be in RG QFs
You can tell how grateful and emotional Shelby was after her big Sunday’s win.

Words of support are coming from the entire tennis community.

Sloane Stephens tweeted:

You’re such a gem, Shelby Rogers! There’s not a single person that deserves this more! #proud

Billie Jean King also showed some love:

Way to go, Shelby Rogers! So happy and proud of you. Continue to go for it!

Shelby Rogers interviewed by Marion Bartoli
Shelby enjoyed a magical interview with the 2013 Wimbledon champ Marion Bartoli today.

Another big obstacle is ahead of Shelby, as world No.4 Garbine Muguruza awaits in the quarters. It will be their first career meeting.

Shelby Rogers press conference RG
So many reasons to smile. Shelby at the press conference following her fourth-round victory.

I’m glad that the Charleston tournament shared the lovely childhood photo.

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