At the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium she met her final match in the form of world No. 46 Ajla Tomljanovic, who eventually exited the third round of the US Open 7-5 6-7 6-1.
The record will show that Williams has lost her last six games, but that would be if we were to ignore three hours and four minutes of an outstanding match in which she breathed defiant until the end.
He just wouldn’t go away even when the situation was almost hopeless at the end. In a final game that lasted nearly fifteen minutes, he saved five match points, retiring a series of forehand winners.
“God, thank you so much, you’re amazing today,” he said in an emotional courtside interview. “I tried but Ajla played a bit better.”
With tears in her eyes, she added: “Thanks dad, I know you’re watching. Thank you mom. I just want to thank everyone who is here, who have been by my side, for so many years, decades. But it all started with my parents and they deserve everything, so I’m really grateful to them.’
An emotional Williams continued to credit her older sister Venus as an inspiration for her pivotal role in the career of the 23-time grand slam singles champion.
“These are happy tears I guess,” she said. “And I wouldn’t be, I wouldn’t be Serena if it wasn’t for Aphrodite, so thank you Aphrodite. She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed.
“It was a fun ride, it was the most incredible ride and journey I have ever had in my life. And I am so grateful to every person who has ever said “go Serena” in life. I am very grateful because he brought me here.’
Serena Williams broke down in tears as her US Open fairytale finally came to an end and her glittering career came to an end
At the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium, she finally met her match as she suffered defeat in the third round of the event
The American star was beaten by Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic (right) in a tight three-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Showing the grit that made her a champion, Williams wouldn’t quit even when the going was hopeless at the end
The 23-time Grand Slam winner breathed his last in defying three hours and four minutes of an outstanding contest
He continued to leave the door slightly ajar, but that’s definitely the end of it. Asked if that was the case, she replied: “I think so, you never know,” before promptly leaving the court.
Early on the atmosphere was somewhat less feverish than the previous two games, as if the anticipation had now changed and it was another step in a fortnight’s journey
Tomljanovic left with general indifference from the crowd and, as is now customary, had to sit and wait while a tribute video for her opponent played before her shocking arrival.
World No. 46 Tomljanovic withdrew amid general indifference from the home crowd, as is customary this week
Although a seasoned professional, nothing can prepare a player for this. However, the Croatian-Australian, 29, will have stood in good stead by appearing in the night match at Wimbledon last year which saw Emma Raducanu retire.
She took advantage of a loose opening by Williams to break, which dampened the crowd’s initial enthusiasm. It was only temporary as Williams began to love, sparking them up again.
The American was hitting with impressive depth for a player who prefers to hit relatively straight down the court and the decibels rose when the six-time champion raced into a 5-3 lead.
She looked a little tight when trying to serve it out, though, and that sparked a new level from Tomljanovic, who soon had two break points at 5-5 as she deftly opened up the court.
A beautifully timed backhand down the line brought a second break in a row. The Aussie, whose game is uncomplicated, made it three set points and took the third with a forehand that went down the line after some nervous errors.
The American legend was hitting with impressive depth for a player who prefers to hit relatively straight down the court
The resilient Williams would have to come back from a set down for the first time in the week and dig deep to take the second
Now Williams would have to return from a set for the first time in a week, testing her aging legs.
Tomljanovic looked surprised when the American changed her strategy early in the set, moving forward when she could and playing with sheer aggression to cut short rallies.
It was a treat as she threw the kitchen sink at her opponent, hitting with abandon to take a 4-0 lead in what turned out to be an 83-minute second set.
The world No.46 then managed to dig in, never more so than in the epic eighth game. It lasted fifteen minutes and featured nine deuces, with Williams creating four set points. He couldn’t finish it off and 5-3 quickly became 5-4.
Tomljanovic dug deep after going 4-0 down in the second set and clawed his way back in the tiebreak before winning the third
His sheer length was dwindling and the bigger player began to blow hard. He reached the final stand with the tiebreak and advanced 4-1. Tomljanovic equalized, but then Williams’ forehand intervened and she took it 7-4 with two hours and 12 minutes on the clock.
Could the veteran last? She looked that way when she broke early in the decider, especially as her serve was much improved after an uncharacteristically poor start in that stretch.
The years, however, began to tell against the top fitness of Tomljanovic, who was already on a streak of victories in rallies lasting five shots or more.
A host of A-list stars have become regulars on the Arthur Ashe courts in Williams’ first two rounds, and Friday night was no exception.
Williams’ husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian was front and center in her box at the likely final tennis match, wearing a T-shirt with a photo of their five-year-old daughter, Olympia, taken at the US Open during of the first round.
He was photographed rocking the tribute to his daughter, Olympia, who has been absent from the US Open since Monday night.
Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, wore a T-shirt with an adorable photo of their daughter Olympia in the third-round match.
Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian was on hand to support the tennis matriarch as his shirt received global recognition
Olympia, officially Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., turned five on Thursday and stole the show with her performance in her mom’s win over Danka Kovinic.
Olympia was pictured on Monday night in her mum’s box as she cheered on in a matching outfit.
Williams and her adorable daughter wore matching diamond outfits for the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s blockbuster first-round match at the US Open on Monday.
Williams’ outfit, made by her longtime partner Nike, was all black and covered in diamonds to mark the significance of the occasion. Nike created a matching outfit for daughter Olympia who cheered her mother on in the stands sitting next to her father.
It seems the matching outfit wasn’t the only tribute to her mother she wore. In addition to the sparkles, Olympia was seen wearing white beaded braids, a hairstyle similar to the one Serena wore when she won her first US Open title in 1999.
Williams wasn’t the only one glam on Monday night, as Nike created a matching outfit for her daughter Olympia (right)
Olympia sat in the stands with her father Alexis Ohanian to cheer her mom on in her opening match at Flushing Meadows
The five-year-old wore white beads in her hair to commemorate her mum’s first US Open win when she wore the hairstyle
American billionaire Robert Kraft, Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and his singer wife Ciara were also among the star cast supporting Williams in Flushing Meadows.
Wilson, Ciara and Ohanian were all in the Williams player’s box along with her sister Venus and her mother, Oracene Price.
More NFL royalty was in attendance in Queens, with New England Patriots owner Kraft and fiancée Dana Blumberg soaking up the atmosphere.
New York icon Spike Lee made his third Arthur Ashe appearance of the week, rocking a soft brown suit, while 12-time grand slam winner Billie Jean King glowed in a pink cardigan – a color she also wore on Monday because, as she explained, it’s Williams’ favorite color,
Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons was in the crowd — as a fellow Aussie, Tomljanovic turned in the best performance of his career. So does model Bella Hadid and boyfriend Marc Kalman.
Wilson and Ciara often appear together at various high-profile sporting events in the US and sit in the player’s box
Denver quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara were just one of the most powerful couples in attendance at Flushing Meadows on Friday night
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and fiancee Dana Blumberg enjoy the proceedings as the NFL season approaches
Spike Lee was seen rocking a blazer whenever he could and was a constant presence at Williams’ matches this tournament
Brooklyn Nets superstar Ben Simmons was seen smiling as fellow Australian Tomljanovic triumphed over the iconic Williams
Billie Jean King watched Williams and Ajla Tomljanovic go head-to-head on a stage in which she starred.
Supermodel Bella Hadid, seen with partner Marc Kalman, had attended all of Williams’ 2022 US Open singles matches
PK Subban (right) is currently an unrestricted NHL free agent after most recently with the New Jersey Devils
NHL free agent and former New Jersey Devils defenseman PK Subban joined the star-studded crowd watching an exciting opening set.
Throughout the week, Williams had more big names in her corner, including golf legend…
