American tennis closes a chapter with farewells to Collins and Rogers

NEW YORK — Danielle Collins unceremoniously packed her bag and walked quickly toward the exit of Louis Armstrong Stadium, as US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster followed her, awkwardly carrying a bouquet of flowers. Collins had just lost in three sets to Caroline Dolehide in the last major singles match of her career, and possibly her last singles match ever.

Tournament organizers wanted to celebrate the career of the former world No. 7 and 2022 Australian Open finalist, as they had done on court the day before for 2020 champion Dominic Thiem and two-time quarterfinalist Diego Schwartzman, but Collins just wasn’t into it.

“I asked not to do a presentation on the court,” Collins, currently No. 11, told reporters after Tuesday’s game, the weariness audible in her voice. “I’m not someone who likes to celebrate my achievements.”

Hours later, the tournament had a chance for on-court celebration when Collins’ fellow American Shelby Rogers, who had announced the previous week that the US Open would be her final tournament, officially ended her career. Rogers, a two-time quarterfinalist in a major including the 2020 US Open, had fallen to Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-3 in the first round. But even in her disappointment, Rogers seemed touched by the gesture, and by those who had stayed in the stands to honor her. She smiled broadly when Allaster approached her after the match and a tribute video was shown.

“I expected to feel a lot of emotions, but the biggest one is just gratitude,” Rogers told the crowd, which included several family members with tears in their eyes. “Gratitude for all the great moments and also some tough moments on this field. But (it’s) really special to be able to play here again.”

While the reactions from Rogers, 31, and Collins, 30, couldn’t have been more different — and perhaps perfectly embodied their differing personalities — their joint farewell to the US Open and the sport marks the end of an era for two of the most cherished American women on tour. Over the past decade, both have represented the U.S. on numerous occasions as part of the Billie Jean King Cup team. Rogers was part of the team that won the title in 2017, and Collins has been a key member of the past four editions and also played on the Olympic team in Paris this summer.

“Danielle has meant a lot to the team,” former Billie Jean King Cup team captain and 2024 Olympics coach Kathy Rinaldi told ESPN in the spring. “I think her record speaks for itself, but I think she’s just the type of player you want. She’s a fighter.

“You always know what you’re going to get from Danielle. She’s super competitive. She wants to do well, not so much for herself, but for her country, for her teammates, and I know over the years just sharing that bench with her, she would leave everything on the pitch, and you can’t ask for more.”

Collins and Rogers have provided countless memorable moments on the court during their professional careers. Collins, who was unsure Tuesday if she would be able to play the rest of the season due to injuries and “health concerns,” has won four WTA titles — including this season in Miami and Charleston — and has become a beloved if somewhat polarizing figure for her frequent “Come on!” shouts and undeniable competitive fire.

Rogers, who reached a career high of No. 30 in 2022, has recorded surprise victories over Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty in her career. Her victory over Barty, who was ranked No. 1 in the world and had won Wimbledon earlier that year, in front of a packed Ashe court at the 2021 US Open firmly cemented her in tournament history.

She was popular among her peers in the locker room and even Barty was happy for Rogers after the match.

“It sucks in tennis that every day there’s a winner and a loser, but sometimes you don’t mind losing to certain people,” Barty said. “I think Shelby, personality-wise and character-wise, is definitely one of those people for me.”

Although neither Rogers nor Collins have won a major and have both been hampered by injuries and ailments in recent months, they have both made their mark on the sport and on American tennis.

And for Pegula, who remembers playing Rogers in sectional tournaments in Georgia when they were both young teens, it’s a bittersweet reminder of the inevitable conclusion for all professional athletes. Pegula wept on the court after the game as he talked about Rogers.

“I think it’s crazy, I know she’s had a lot of injuries, but to see people my age retire — her, Danielle, it’s sad,” Pegula, 30, said before the tournament began. “To be able to end your career at the US Open and play each other, it’s pretty amazing when you look at it that way … it kind of comes full circle. I hope she’s looking forward to what comes next.”