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Rogers was prepared to receive death threats after her loss at the US Open.

On Monday, during the fourth round of the US Open, US tennis player Shelby Rogers was defeated by Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu. It was a rough match for Rogers, who lost 6-2 6-1. After her major upset victory against Ash Barty the day prior, she confessed to having difficulty getting back into the flow, and expressed concern about the messages she would undoubtedly receive on her social media.

“Obviously, we appreciate the spotlight in those moments, but then, you know, you have today and I’m going to have nine million death threats and whatnot,” she told reporters after Monday’s match.

“It’s very much polarizing, one extreme to the other very quickly.

“At this point in my career, I’d say I’m used to it. It’s just now for me, like I said, finding a way to, okay, have those big wins but then be able to back it up a little bit. Yeah, it’s not easy, to say the least.”

Shelby Rogers, on managing the highs and lows.

"Obviously we appreciate the spotlight in those moments, but then, you know, you have today and I'm going to have 9 million death threats and whatnot. It's very much polarizing, one extreme to the other very quickly.” #USOpen pic.twitter.com/n2OGRfMOcl

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 6, 2021

Rogers’ fears aren’t unfounded; her fellow athlete Sloane Stephens received an outpouring of negative and threatening messages after her loss to Angelique Kerber.

“I kind of wish social media didn’t exist,” Rogers said when asked about Stephens’ Instagram posts. “Here we are. It’s a big part of marketing now, we have contracts, we have to post certain things.

“I don’t know, you could probably go through my profile right now, I’m probably a fat pig and, you know, words that I can’t say right now. But, I mean, it is what it is. You try not to take it to heart, and it’s the unfortunate side of any sport and what we do.

“I’m also very grateful to have had that opportunity on Ashe. Not everybody has even had a chance to play there, and I played there three times this week. It’s just trying to keep it in perspective. You know, just focusing on the important things, not comments from people in their mom’s basement.

“You know, yeah, it’s really unfortunate and some of it does get to your head sometimes.”