The outstanding singles career of Sam Stosur has come to an end, with the one-time major winner making an emotional exit at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Stosur had announced last month she would play her final singles tournament at the Open, the decision beginning the progressive retirement of one of the most-admired players in Australian tennis.
The 37-year-old lost 6-2, 6-2 to 10th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round this afternoon, with the crowd inside Kia Arena warmly showing its appreciation for the 2011 US Open singles champion after the match.
"I have done more than I ever thought was possible," Stosur said in her courtside interview.
"I dreamed of winning a grand slam [singles title] and doing close to the things I did. To do what I have done, dreaming as a little kid, is phenomenal.
Pavlyuchenkova paid tribute to Stosur, having enjoyed playing against her several times during their careers.
"I had goosebumps when everybody was clapping for Sam," she said.
"She is such a wonderful human being and also amazing tennis player, so thank you Sam."
Stosur's singles career — which saw her climb as high as number four in the world — will be remembered by her legion of fans with much fondness, with her defeat of Serena Williams in the US Open final 11 years ago the highlight.
It broke a 31-year major singles drought for Australian women and followed her appearance in the 2010 French Open final, where she was runner-up to Francesca Schiavone.
Stosur had mixed results in the singles tournament at the Australian Open, with fourth-round appearances in 2006 and 2010 her best performances.
She will continue playing doubles in 2022 and, given she won last year's US Open alongside Zhang Shuai, it is not out of the question to suggest she may add another major championship to her collection.
The Queenslander has won four major doubles titles and she has claimed three mixed doubles crowns.
The 487th-ranked Stosur produced vintage form when she fought back from a set down to beat American wildcard Robin Anderson in the first round on Tuesday.
But getting past Pavlyuchenkova was always going to be a tough ask. The Russian is coming off a 2021 season that included a French Open final appearance and a career-high ranking of 11, which she still holds.
Pavlyuchenkova got on top of Stosur early, breaking the Australian in the opening game of the match before holding serve to lead 2-0.
Stosur did not buckle though, and she got on the board when she held in the third game, but the pressure applied by Pavlyuchenkova told as the set wore on.
Pavlyuchenkova broke for a second time in the fifth game and later served for the first set at 5-2, but Stosur's fighting qualities came to the fore.
She had a break point, which was warmly received by the supportive home crowd, however Pavlyuchenkova served out the game to take the set in 31 minutes.
A double break in the second set moved Pavlyuchenkova closer to victory with a 4-1 lead, but Stosur pulled one back in the fifth game to at least give herself a chance of fighting her way back into the match.
But Stosur's hard work was undone when she dropped serve in the following game. Pavlyuchenkova then faced a break point when she served for the match at 5-2 but she showed cool nerves to seal the win.
Pavlyuchenkova plays Sorana Cîrstea in the third round, the Romanian having won through to the last 32 after defeating Slovakia's Kristína Kučová 6-2, 6-4.
