SERENA WILLIAMS' dream of a farewell US Open victory were ended on Friday night.
The 40-year-old tennis icon was beaten by Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in a marathon match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena went down 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 in just over three hours in what is probably her last ever match.
Here is how it all unfolded…
- Sunni Upal
What a night
What a run. I can't remember a buzz around a grand slam like the first week of this US Open.
That's all down to Serena. She is one of a kind.
.Credit: AP - Sunni Upal
Serena said
“Thank you so much, you guys were amazing. I tried. Alja played a little bit better.
"Thank you daddy, I know you are watching. Thanks mum.
“Everyone that is here, everyone that has been on my side, literally decades, it all started with my parents.
"They deserved everything. I am really grateful for them. These are happy tears.
“I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus. Thank you. She is the only reason why Serena Williams ever existed.
“To my husband, my daughter Olympia, everyone in that box, it has been a fun ride.
“It has been the most incredible ride and journey I have been on my life. I am grateful to every person that has said ‘Go Serena’.
“You never know, but I don’t think that I will be back.”
- Sunni Upal
Simply the best
Tina Turner blares around Arthur Ashe Stadium as Serena comes up for a speech.
She is simply the best.
- Sunni Upal
Til the bitter end
Even in that last game, Serena didn't go down without a fight.
She forced eight deuces and three break points before eventually being beaten.
A true champion. What a fighter.
- Sunni Upal
Game, set and match
It's over. Ajla Tomljanovic wins an epic in three sets.
Serena battled and battled like the champion she is, but it wasn't enough.
The final score – 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 to the Aussie.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 1-5* Tomljanovic
It's a double break.
Serena's approach drifts long and her chances in this match might have gone with it.
A complete silence falls around Ashe as Tomljanovic wins that game.
She will serve for a place in the fourth round.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 *1-4 Tomljanovic
Serena misses a wide open chance down the line to force deuce.
It's a hold of serve for the Aussie and she's two games away from victory.
It's a long way back for Serena from here. Has the great champion got one last push in her?
.Credit: AFP - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 1-3* Tomljanovic
Ajla breaks, she takes control of the final set.
Serena is digging really deep but she can't pull off another miraculous hold.
Worrying moments for Serena.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 *1-2 Tomljanovic
Tomljanovic holds on with a comfortable service game – just what she would've wanted at this stage.
The crowd fall silent again as Serena trudges back to her chair with more work to do.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and fiancee Dana Blumberg in the standsCredit: AP
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 1-1* Tomljanovic
The Aussie breaks straight back.
Serena moved into a 40-15 lead in that game but couldn't consolidate the break.
Brilliant tennis from both players again.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 *1-0 Tomljanovic
Serena breaks! She's made the perfect start to the final set.
The crowd are breaking into a chant of 'Serena, Serena, Serena'.
This is spine-tingling stuff. Williams ahead early in the decider.
- Sunni Upal
Final act
This will definitely be the final set of this match.
Will it be the final set of Serena's career?
2hrs and 15mins played and nothing to separate them.
Strap yourselves in for the decider.
.Credit: AFP - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 7-6 Tomljanovic
We're going to a decider!
A quite amazing effort from Serena to take the tiebreak 7-4.
I don't think I can remember a noise like this in a tennis match ever before.
What a night. Deciding set coming up.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 6-6 Tomljanovic
It's 4-2 to Serena at the change of ends.
The crowd are sensing a deciding set.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 6-6 Tomljanovic
Serena has the crowd on their feet with a quite remarkable point to bring up 15-30.
But the door is slammed in her face once again by Tomljanovic.
The Aussie holds, and off to a tie-break we go.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 6-5* Tomljanovic
Serena stands up to be counted, she holds onto her serve to guarantee at least a tiebreak.
All pressure back on Tomljanovic now. Can Serena break and take us to a decider?
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 *5-5 Tomljanovic
Tomljanovic holds and we're all square again in the second set.
That is an amazing effort from 4-0 down.
What is Serena thinking here now? She could be a couple of games from going out.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 5-4* Tomljanovic
The tables turn. Tomljanovic breaks and she's back on serve in this set from 4-0 down.
Brilliant fightback from the Aussie, coming from two break down, surviving a 15-minute game and then breaking at a crucial moment.
A hush from the stands. These are huge moments now.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 *5-3 Tomljanovic
What a game and what a hold from the Aussie.
A nine-deuce, 15-minute long brute of a service game.
Serena had four break points there which would've sealed the set.
But Tomljanovic holds and now Serena will serve for it at 5-3… as she did in the first.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 5-2* Tomljanovic
Simply sensational from Serena. She holds on in a tough service game and moves to within one of forcing a final set.
She lets out a couple of roars in celebration and 24,000 people inside Arthur Ashe Stadium respond.
Electric atmosphere on a Friday night in New York.
.Credit: AFP - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 *4-2 Tomljanovic
Good tennis from Tomljanovic.
She holds serve and a hush descends upon Arthur Ashe Stadium once again.
A brilliant response from the Aussie, and now a big game for Serena coming up.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 4-1* Tomljanovic
That wasn't in the script for Serena.
Tomljanovic gets a break back to get on the scoreboard in the second set.
Good response from the Aussie, even if it's too late in this set to make a difference.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 *4-0 Tomljanovic
A double break. Stunning tennis from Williams.
She is taking the returns early and dominating the Tomljanovic serve.
Nothing the Aussie can do about this onslaught.
We could be about to see a deciding set.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 3-0* Tomljanovic
Serena holds to consolidate the break, and the roars just keep getting louder and louder.
Tomljanovic looked to be taking control but Serena has found a new level.
Amazing comeback.
.Credit: AP - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 *2-0 Tomljanovic
Serena breaks! A huge effort and the crowd are on their feet.
The American just far too good there for a few points. Nothing Ajla could do about that.
There's life in the Williams camp again.
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