Two days after being annoyed by Ashleigh Barty, the series leader in the third round, Shelby Rogers ’American Open race ended on Monday with a loss to Emma Raducanu in a series in a row. Although his removal was a cause for disappointment, Rogers ’post-match thoughts were of a different concern: social media.
Speaking to the media after the defeat, Rogers said he hoped to see “nine million death threats” from strangers on his social media accounts, according to ESPN’s Aishwarya Kumar, and lamented the role the social media in sports.
“Obviously, we appreciate the attention right now, but then you have it today and I’ll have nine million death threats and nothing,” Rogers said. “It’s very polarizing, one end to the other very quickly.”
After coming together to beat Barty in an exciting three-set match, Rogers was out of pace for virtually the entire game Monday, losing 6-2, 6-1. He lost 11 games in a row during a stretch, as Raducanu has yet to lose a set for the tournament.
Rogers said he uses social media primarily to fulfill his marketing functions, but otherwise he wants him not to use them.
“You could probably go through my profile right now – I’m probably a‘ fat pig ’and words I can’t say right now,” Rogers said. “But, it is what it is. Try not to take it into account, and it is the unfortunate side of any sport and what we do …
“Social media can’t control what I’m doing and how my training will progress, but I wish it didn’t exist. It’s very hard.”
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