Serena Williams’ run at the 2022 U.S. Open is officially over after she lost Friday in a three-set third-round match to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, 7-6, 6-7 (7-4), 6-1. It’s expected to be 40-year-old Williams’ final tournament before she exits tennis (she’s been purposeful not to say “retirement”).
The match lasted more than three hours and was some of the best, hard-fought tennis of the tournament so far. For Tomljanovic, it’s her first U.S. Open Round of 16 appearance, and she had to take down the GOAT to do it.
It was truly an incredible match with exceptional performances from both players, but Tomljanovic seemed to have more left in the tank by the time the third set began. Here’s the match point that handed Tomljanovic the win and eliminated Williams from the tournament:
All love for Serena after Ajla Tomljanović takes the match ❤️ #USOpen pic.twitter.com/rgdKRW30G1
— ESPN (@espn) September 3, 2022
From the beginning, Williams’ serve wasn’t at the high level we’ve seen throughout the week, and she lost the first intense set.
The second set was particularly grueling. Williams came out firing at the beginning and was up 4-0 in the set at one point before allowing Tomljanovic to claw back into it, in part by winning a marathon 15-miute eighth game with nine deuces. Tomljanovic followed that game win by breaking Williams to make it 5-4.
WOW.@serenawilliams | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/SQvVnj4vNU
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
The second set was forced to a tiebreak with Williams again jumping out to a 4-1 lead before Tomljanovic tied it up. Williams ultimately won the tiebreak and the second set, forcing an intense third.
here's just one of the points of this incredible game: pic.twitter.com/daCKqs1NCy
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
Looking a bit more tired than in the first two sets, Williams opened the third by breaking Tomljanovic, who responded with two breaks of her own. Add those to a strong serving game and an excellent command of the court, and Tomljanovic stormed to a 5-1 lead.
The final game saw the two play six match points with Williams putting up a valiant fight before Tomljanovic ultimately won.
Even though Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champ, lost, she had a great week and treated fans to one last U.S. Open appearance.
One final wave 🥲 pic.twitter.com/HivoQiMDdT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
