Wimbledon champion Barty held a 5-2 lead in the final set and twice served for the match but home favourite Rogers battled her way back into contention. World number one Ashleigh Barty fell in the US Open third round after Shelby Rogers produced a superb comeback in front of a raucous New York crowd.
The world number 43 then came through the resulting tie-break to stun the top seed 6-2 1-6 7-6 (7-5).
She will face British teenager Emma Raducanu next.
Barty was devoid of rhythm in the first set but seemed to have found, if not her best form, enough to take her into the fourth round.
However, Rogers, helped by the crowd, pulled off a remarkable show of shot-making to beat Barty for the first time in six attempts.
It is just Barty’s eighth loss of what has been a sterling season.
“You guys are in control of the tournament,” Rogers told the crowd.
“You were awesome and I didn’t want to leave. I just wanted to make balls and stay in the match.”
Barty wobbles on home stretch
Barty had done all the hard work, overcoming a sluggish start to take control of the match, but her form once again deserted her as she served for a place in the last 16.
Despite having the double break cushion, Barty looked tight as she first served for the match, and a netted forehand that handed Rogers the break prompted a loud “come on” from her opponent and the crowd.
Rogers gestured for the crowd to make more noise and they responded, helped by her fending off Barty in her own service game from 30-30, and the American quickly creating another break-point opportunity in the next.
A trademark forehand from Barty kept her in the game but Rogers, out of nowhere, lifted her level, and she was roared on by the crowd as she clawed her way to 5-5.
The tie-break was a nervy affair at first, both players missing routine shots as they tried to end the points quickly, but it was Barty who blinked first.
The two players shared a warm word and hug at the net before a tearful Rogers soaked in the atmosphere and cheers from the crowd.
Barty is a pragmatic character but she will know that she had this match on her racquet.
“It’s never nice when you have a couple of opportunities to serve out a match and can’t get it done,” Barty said. “Six in the third is brutal. It’s a tough one to swallow.
“I found a way to really turn it in my favour and just wasn’t able to just quite finish off. It’s disappointing, but we’ll move on.”
Barty too had warm support from the crowd as she recovered from a poor start that saw her serve four double faults to go an early break down in the opening set.
The Australian could not find her radar, her forehand in particular looking off, and she finished the first set with 17 unforced errors, compared to just seven winners.
Although she forced herself back into some form, Rogers’ resilience – and the Arthur Ashe crowd – proved a step too far for Barty.
“[It’s] not a match I’ll dwell on for too long in the sense that there are so many ‘what ifs’. Millimetres could have changed things,” Barty said.
“You accept that in tennis. I just didn’t quite have enough, physically or mentally, in the tank. But that’s OK. I’ll sleep well tonight knowing I gave everything I could. It just wasn’t quite enough.
“I feel like the Slams, you’re kind of building up to it and afterwards there’s a reset. We reset now. We go back to the drawing board, work out what we want to do for the rest of the season.”
Andreescu & Pliskova advance
Earlier, 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu needed just 67 minutes to sweep aside lucky loser Greet Minnen and reach the US Open fourth round.
The Canadian sixth seed, who is finding her way back from a long-term knee injury, beat the Belgian 6-1 6-2.
The 21-year-old has now won her past 10 main draw matches in New York.
She faces an intriguing last-16 match against French Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari after the Greek beat a patchy Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-3.
Czech 10th seed Kvitova made 34 unforced errors compared to just 16 winners as she struggled for consistency.
Sakkari and Andreescu last met at the Miami Open in April, with Canadian edging a third set tie-break in a match that finished at 01:30 local time.
Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova made light work of her meeting with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.
The Czech fourth seed, a runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2016, took just over an hour to win 6-3 6-2.
Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic also advanced to the fourth round with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Jessica Pegula.
Switzerland’s Bencic last year’s French Open champion Iga Swiatek next after the Pole beat Anett Kontaveit 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Swiatek is the only WTA player to have reached the second week of each Grand Slam in 2021.
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
MANAGER PROFILE
Uncle Wisdom is a Lagos-based music executive and visionary leader known for blending structure, strategy, and creativity in artist management. With a background in Mathematics and Statistics from UNICROSS formerly, Cross River University Of Technology. He brings analytical precision into talent development, positioning artists for both creative excellence and commercial success.
CAREER JOURNEY
Began his career in 2017 as an event coordinator for Eksu Olofofo, where he gained foundational experience in live events and audience engagement. By 2018, he transitioned into full-time artist management, driven by a clear goal to build a more structured and results-oriented system within the music industry.
In 2019, Started working as a road manager for Barry Jhay, gaining hands-on experience in touring, logistics, and artist operations, a refined career and mental awareness coach . He was also instrumental behind Barry Jhay’s 2025 sold-out homecoming concert, a key moment that fueled momentum for a successful UK tour, including sold-out shows in London and Birmingham.
PHLOX MGMT
Founded from the ground up, Phlox Mgmt is a forward-thinking management company focused on Career coaching, A&R, artist development, and strategic positioning. The company is built on a clear philosophy:
Develop the sound. Define the brand. Position the artist to win.
Phlox Mgmt has connections with @Roadgod_of Roadgod Agency and connects artists with top-tier producers, engineers, and creatives, ensuring a refined sound and strong market presence. The company continues to grow as a trusted platform for emerging and established talent.
INDUSTRY NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Uncle Wisdom has built valuable relationships across the industry, working with and alongside talents such as:
Barry Jhay • Asake • Ceeza Milli • Berri Tiga • Laime • Spellz • and many others
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
John Wisdom operates with a long-term vision, focusing on structure, consistency, and execution. His approach goes beyond traditional management he builds systems around artists that support sustainable growth, strong branding, and global competitiveness.
CONTACT & SOCIALS
Instagram & X: @Johnwisdm @phlox_mgmt
TikTok: @unclewisdom7
Email: phloxentertainment@gmail.com
Phone: 08038448478 | 09015668027
-
Audio10 years agoPage – Day Break Everywhere Burst
-
Audio5 years agoShadykarz – Forever
-
Audio10 years agoJuniorboy ft. 9ice – IRAPADA
-
Entertainment Gists5 years agoEx-Beauty Queen, Sandra Benede Shares Sexy Photo
-
Audio5 years agoSimi – Happy Birthday ft. Adekunle Gold, DeJa
-
Audio5 years agoRuger – Bounce
-
Mixtapes4 years agoMixtape: DJ DimpleNipple – The Best Of Amapiano Thrills
-
Editorials3 years agoSa’eedah Imam On Creating Her Imprint In The Nigerian Music Industry As An Emerging Creative Writer