It is often said that parents are the pillars of the success of their children. The sport of tennis has seen many cases in this regard. Take the example of Serena Williams. As highlighted in the movie, King Richard, the American legend was supported by her father in tennis right from her childhood days. The case of Shelby Rogers is no different. The American star had great support from her mother while pursuing her tennis career, as she imbibed many useful values from her.

While fulfilling her tennis commitments, Rogers also put her faith in god and that’s again something she imbibed from her mother. During an interview with Sports Spectrum last year, the 31-year-old talked about her childhood days and how she remained grateful to her mother for her religious beliefs.

She said, “I grew up going back to school, you know, going to Church every Sunday, Sunday school, did the typical Southern girl childhood and baptizing to it and I feel like my mom did a really good job of instilling those values in us which I’m super thankful for.”

Further, Rogers believes that her faith in Jesus Christ has helped her uplift her career. “I carry him with me every day, I feel his presence and it’s been very instrumental in my life and my career,” Rogers once said.

Rogers has never shied away from expressing her religious beliefs. Taking to X, she once said, “Religion says God will love you if you change, the Gospel says God loves you now& His love will transform you into a reflection of His heart.”

The American star is currently in New York, where she will play in her last US Open. She made a saddening revelation about her retirement just days before the start of the tournament.

Why did Shelby Rogers announce her retirement?

At 31, Rogers still had a few years left in her tennis career. However, she didn’t intend to prolong her career after many battles with injuries. Her relentless injury woes were becoming too tough to manage and she eventually made her retirement decision clear on social media.

“When you start playing a sport as a kid, you never think about the ending. You just practice, have fun, and chase your dreams as hard as you can… There really aren’t enough words for this moment, but I can confidently say that I have pushed my body to its limit. These last couple of years fighting with injuries and surgeries have been challenging,” Rogers wrote.

Further, Rogers thanked Jesus Christ for laying the foundation of her career with blessings and joys. “Jesus has been my foundation and my anchor through this crazy life on tour. I am forever humbled by the blessings and joys He has gifted me through both the highs and lows,” she added.

Rogers will take on her compatriot and good friend, Jessica Pegula in the first-round match later today. Who are you backing to win that match? Let us know in the comments below.