Ash Barty speaks after shock US Open choke

Ash Barty has spoken for the first time since falling apart at the finish line in a bonkers US Open match that left her opponent in tears.

Ash Barty has spoken for the first time since being eliminated from the US Open.

The Aussie twice served for the match in the third set, but lost her cool when it mattered most, eventually losing 6-2 1-6 7-6 (7-5) to American Shelby Rogers in a match that stretched well over the two-hour mark.

Barty was flustered at the start of the match and the yips crept into her game again just when it seemed she was already through to the fourth round.

The world No. 1 was on the ropes after an extraordinary first set, but the contest was flipped on its head when she raced through the second set and took an early break in the third set, winning seven straight service games.

Then it flipped again.

In another dramatic twist, Barty served for the match at 5-2 with a double break, but was broken in yet another case of her serve going to water at the finish line.

One Las Vegas bookmaker, Caesers Sportsbook, had Rogers at 5000-1 when Barty first served for the match.

Ashleigh Bartyand Shelby Rogers shared a blockbuster for the ages. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP.

Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centre court at Flushing Meadows, was ready to explode when Rogers made it 5-4 and then gestured for the crowd to raise their voices as they changed ends.

The crowd erupted when Barty next bungled two forehands, allowing Rogers to break for a second time.

The second break meant Barty has been broken four times this tournament when serving for the match having played just three matches.

The home town hero had won four straight service games as the match headed into a cliff-hanging third-set tiebreak.

The drama reached insane levels at 5-5 in the tiebreak before Barty hit another forehand unforced error and then sent another shot long to give Rogers an unforgettable victory.

Rogers was in tears as she embraced Barty at the net and buried her face in her hands after Barty’s final shot went long.

Barty was all class after the loss, sharing a smile with Rogers at the net and even raising her hands to clap the crowd that had turned against her late in the match.

Her post match feelings were typically measured, but she admitted it still hurts.

“It’s disappointing. A tough one to swallow,” Barty said after the match.

“It sucks in tennis that there’s a winner and loser every single day.”

Ash Barty struggled early.

She went on to say: “You can’t win every single tennis match that you play.

“I’m proud of myself and my team for all the efforts we’ve put in in the last six months. It’s been pretty incredible. I don’t think we could have asked for much more honestly. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Rogers won it as much as Barty lost it.

“I didn’t want to leave,” Rogers said.

“I just said make balls, try to stay in this match, it can’t get any worse, you’ve lost to her every time.”

“I was just trying to stay in the point longer than Ash. I was happy with myself for sort of problem solving. I’m just so excited to be moving on to the next round.”

Local American TV sports director Scott Eisberg summed up the mood when he posted on Twitter: “Holy cow. This is insane. NY crowd is going nuts”.

Barty had earlier been left shellshocked as Rogers raced through the first set 6-2 in just 32 minutes.

The Queenslander then steadied in the second set to secure her first break of serve for the match, eventually taking the set 6-1 in 32 minutes.

Ashleigh Barty came to life in the second set. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP.

The polar opposite sets saw an ESPN commentators gasp, “What a turnaround” as Barty took the second set.

However, there were huge warning signs early — and fears of Barty having an off-night at the office were eventually proven correct.

ESPN commentators said Barty looked “flustered” after she lost the first set.

Another TV commentator said “I did not see that coming”.

Barty had a perfect 5-0 record against Rogers leading into the match.

She finished the set with 17 unforced errors, just seven winners and a first serve percentage that was below 50 per cent.

Australia's Ashleigh Barty. Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP.

Rogers will now play teen freak Emma Raducanu in the fourth round.

The British 150th-ranked qualifier routed Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0, 6-1 in just 70 minutes on Sunday and now awaits Barty in the last 16.

The 18-year-old hasn’t dropped a set in the tournament and has left tennis commentators in “disbelief”.

It is just the second grand slam appearance for Raducanu, who has now made the last 16 at both of them.

Barty won her second round match over Danish 18-year-old Clara Tauson where she again showed some nerves when serving for the match.

She also won her first round match against Vera Zvonareva.