Serena Williams has bid an emotional goodbye to the US Open with a third-round loss to Australian Ajla Tomljanović, in what is likely the last match of the American's glittering career.
The 40-year-old came out swinging and sent the match into a decider by winning a second-set tie-break, but Tomljanović showed nerves of steel to take down the tennis icon, even apologising for doing so after the match.
"I'm feeling really sorry. What she's done for me, for the sport is just incredible," she said.
"This is a surreal moment for me."
The Australian needed six match points to deliver the knockout punch and bring an end to an engrossing three-plus-hour slugfest that ended 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1.
Asked how she handled the pressure, it was simple for the Australian.
"I just thought she would beat me," Tomljanović said.
"She's Serena. She's the greatest of all time. Period."
Williams, for her part, thanked her family, saying she was "really grateful" for the support from her parents, and reserving particular praise for her sister Venus.
"I wouldn't be Serena if there wasn't Venus, so thank you Venus. She's the only reason Serena Williams ever existed," she said.
And while this tournament has been widely considered her swansong, she did leave the door slightly ajar for a comeback when asked if she could be back at some point in the future.
"I don't think so, but you never know," she said.
Tomljanović wins match befitting the occasion
Tomljanović had never before progressed past the third round in New York, but never looked overawed by her opponent, the moment or the extremely partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Her flat and fast groundstrokes regularly troubled Williams, with neither player going into their shells even in the biggest moments of the match.
Even when she went down a break and Williams served for the first set at 5-3, Tomljanović held firm to break back and stay in the match, rattling off four-straight games to win the opener.
The 29-year-old was once again forced to play from behind when she went down two breaks to trail 4-0 in the second, but refused to go away, staying alive in the set with a 15-minute service game that included nine deuces during which Tomljanović fought off four break points.
Williams served for the second set again after that marathon game, but Tomljanović broke back, then held two more times to force the second-set tie-break.
The momentum swung Williams's way when she won the breaker 7-4 and a lesser opponent might have faded, but again Tomljanović rallied for the decider.
While the third was the most straightforward in terms of scoreline, it still lasted almost an hour and ended fittingly with a marathon match where nothing was given and every point, game and set was taken by force.
Tomljanović's final hold of serve lasted more than 10 minutes yet again, with Williams saving five match points and Tomljanović three times preventing Williams from breaking back before the 46th-ranked Aussie completed her famous victory.
Look back at all the action in our live blog below.
Key events
- Tomljanović 'sorry' for taking down Williams
- An emotional Serena Williams salutes the crowd for the final time
- Ajla Tomljanović takes down the great Serena Williams in a classic!
- Tomljanović breaks! She'll serve for the match
- Serena Williams wins the second set in a tie-break!
- Tomljanović stays in the second set with marathon hold of serve
- Alex de Minaur's US Open ended by a tweener
- Ajla Tomljanović wins the first set against Serena Williams
- Tomljanović breaks Serena Williams to start
- Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanović take centre stage
- De Minaur is on the board!
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Live updates
By Jon Healy
What a morning!
Well, I don't know what to do with myself after that.
Such a spectacular match ending with the "upset" win, but really fitting. So glad that Serena went out on her shield in an epic contest, and it was an Aussie that played the match of her life to do it.
Williams left the door open for a return, but even if that does happen some time, I think this is the last we're going to see of her for a good long while.
We'll have A LOT of coverage of the US Open and a wider look back as Serena's career over on ABC Sport, so keep that page bookmarked for all the latest.
See you next time, and thanks for hanging around.
By Jon Healy
A match befitting the occasion
It was an epic match. Both played well 👏
- Natty
Genuinely one of the best US Open matches I've ever seen.
By Jon Healy
How far can Ajla go?
Congratulations to AJLA on winning her game set & match against Serena Williams you can do it again in all your matches GO GIRL !!!!!!!
- Suzanne Bradford
This is now her outright best US Open performance (she's never passed the third round before) but how far can she carry it.
Next up is a match with world number 35 Liudmila Samsonova, but a lot of dangerous players — former champions and finalists like Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens, Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu, plus the second, third and fourth seeds — have been knocked out.
And if Tomljanović can win this match, literally anything is on the cards.
By Jon Healy
The biggest win of Tomljanović's career?
Ajla Tomljanović has been to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the past two years, but she doesn't have any single titles to her name.
Considering the opponent, the stage and the quality of the match, I think you'd have to say this is the biggest victory of the 29-year-old's career.
In every set and in seemingly every game she fought back. I lost count of the number of times in that match that less resilient players would have chucked in the towel. Honestly, I think that's something Williams has relied on late in her career — opponents being overwhelmed and overawed by the moment, the power, the Serena of it all — but Tomljanović just kept coming at the great champion.
Williams had more aces, more winners and fewer double faults, but Tomljanović was objectively the better player on the day.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović 'sorry' for taking down Williams
Tomljanović apologises for ending Williams's career (for now).
"I'm feeling really sorry. What she's done for me for the sport is just incredible.
"This is a surreal moment for me."
She's asked how she handled the pressure, and it was simple for the Australian.
"I just thought she would beat me. The pressure wasn't on me.
"She's Serena. She's the greatest of all time. Period."
By Jon Healy
An emotional Serena Williams salutes the crowd for the final time
She was clearly close to tears as she waved to the crowd. I don't even know if Ajla Tomljanović had the chance to do so.
Williams gets the first on-court interview.
"I tried but Ajla just played a little bit better.
"Thank you daddy, I know you're watching. Thanks mum. ... I'm really grateful for them.
"And I wouldn't be Serena if there wasn't Venus, so thank you Venus. She's the only reason Serena Williams ever existed.
"Everyone that's here, who's been on my side for so many years.
"It's been a fun ride and the most incredible journey I've ever been on."
A glimmer of hope for a comeback?
"I don't think so, but you never know."
By Jon Healy
Ajla Tomljanović takes down the great Serena Williams in a classic!
First point in the bag as Williams sprays a backhand return wide. 15-0
Williams fights back with a forehand return winner and the crowd erupts again like Rocky just got up off the canvas. 15-15
Tomljanović sends a forehand long, and Williams has a sniff at 15-30.
Just sensational from Tomljanović, after flattening out so many forehands, she rips over the top of one to get the cross-court angle for a winner. 30-30
And then forces the forehand error from Williams. MATCH POINT!
Williams saves the first, storming the net and finishing with a backhand winner. Deuce
The umpire has to step in and tell the crowd to hush as Tomljanović serves a fault, but Williams can't capitalise on the second serve, and that's another match point for Tomljanović.
Williams is going for everything on these groundstrokes and painting the lines. Tomljanović will have to win this off her own racquet. Deuce
BANG! Huge forehand winner from Tomljanović. A third match point for the steely Aussie.
OH GET LOST! That forehand winner off the return!? Now?!?! How though? It was so shallow and angled I thought it might have been framed, but nope. Back to deuce.
Ajla Tomljanović! Every great Williams return seems to be coming back with interest, and it's given her a fourth match point.
Williams saves another one! Pure aggression. So brave when facing match point. And hitting targets too. Deuce
Tomljanović misses a short forehand long! And Williams has a break point.
Save by Tomljanović with a major second serve and a beastly forehand. Speaking of brave play. Deuce number five as we tick over three hours.
Match point number five for Tomljanović as Serena miscues a return. but it's saved by Williams again as she pounces on a second serve with a forehand winner. Deuce
Tomljanović completely miscues one, almost hitting her forehand under the net. Advantage Williams again.
But this break point goes begging too, as Tomljanović's groundstrokes keep rushing Williams, who frames one long. Deuce
Net cords galore, drop shots and some tired shot making from Tomljanović, but Williams wins the point with an overhead backhand volley. She gets another break point. I'm tired.
OH MY GOD!!!She's going for every shot in her arsenal and it earns her another match point.
AND SHE GETS IT THIS TIME!!!! Ajla Tomljanović wins!
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović breaks! She'll serve for the match
She makes it 30-0, but not without a massive fight from the Aussie, who once again is all over the baseline.
Tomljanović comes up with a perfect forehand cross-court winner. 30-15
She works her way back into it at 30-0, and now she's the one dictating from the baseline with her returns.
Break point as she flattens out everything, really rushing Serena. 30-40
She gets the break!
By Jon Healy
It's 4-1 for Tomljanović in the final set as she consolidates the break
And she races to 40-0. Williams looks knackered, and Tomljanović knows it.
Double fault. She has some points to play with, but Williams can flip this again with two returns. 40-15
And there's one. Unbelievable depth, right at the toes of Tomljanović as she finished her service motion. 40-30
Oh, so close! Another perfect backhand return from Williams, but Tomljanović digs it out and forces the GOAT to paint the lines, but she can't do it.
Game Tomljanović.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović breaks again in the decider
She gets to 15-0 in a hurry, but gives it back with a miscued drop shot. 15-15
Tomljanović's attempt looked better, but just couldn't sneak over the net cord. 30-15
Sensational backhand down the line from Tomljanović to pass Williams at the net. 30-30
Double fault. Break point chance for Tomljanović. 30-40
Ace out wide. What a save. Deuce
Williams has got to be rubbing up against a time violation with her pace between points right now. But I certainly would be wary calling her for one at this point in the match. On this court.
Superb groundstrokes from Tomljanović gives her another break point, but again Williams saves herself with a big serve down the T.
Double fault. Another break point for Tomljanović. But my lord what a point to save it, from both players. Tomljanović all over the baseline, Williams north and south from the back to the net and back again, eventually winning it with a tough drive volley. Deuce again
Tomljanović bunts the return back in, forcing Williams to generate the pace, and her backhand is net-bound. Another break point.
Tomljanović gets the break! Williams went for an overhead drive volley instead of a traditional volley or smash after Tomljanović wrong-footed her, and that's the break for this unflappable Australian.
By Jon Healy
Nick Kyrgios playing too
He's up against young American JJ Wolf on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović serving at 1-1 in the decider
Tomljanović is flattening out these groundstrokes and they're really tough for Williams to handle. 15-0
Unreturnable serve from Tomljanović. A real energy saver. 30-0
But she follows it up with a double fault. Oof. 30-15
Then an unreturnable serve out wide in the ad court. Yes, Ajla. 40-15
Game Tomljanović. Very telling that Williams didn't try to recover after being dragged wide to dig out the return. The 40-year-old is definitely conserving energy. You'd have to think she would've half expected Tomljanović to go away a little bit at least when the momentum kept swinging against her, but not even a little bit.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović breaks right back in deciding third set
Power and pace on the forehand from Tomljanović forces the error from Williams. 0-15
And then a netted forehand as she tried to go down the line. Gutting or Tomljanović, who had the line available. Not an easy shot though. 15-15
Big ace from Williams to reach 30-15.
And then unreturnable down the middle. These fre points on serve are like gold as we're deep in the third hour of this match. 40-15
Excellent return of the second serve by Tomljanović, ripping a backhand and dictating from there. 30-40
And more brilliant returning from Tomljanović to get Williams off balance and missing the backhand. Deuce
Power off both wings from Tomljanović gives her a chance to break back straight away. This is such a great match. My god.
And Tomljanović gets the break back! Topsy-turvy as all get-out.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović broken in first game of deciding third set
Trading points to start. This match is 2 hours and 17 minutes old.
Forehand winner for Tomljanović to get to 30-15. A couple of chill service games would be much appreciated.
But a double fault makes it 30-30. Seventh for the match from Tomljanović.
Depth from Williams forces the forehand error from Tomljanović. Early look at a break point. 30-40
But Tomljanović saves it with a serve that Williams can't get back into play. Deuce
Looked like Tomljanović was done for footwork there, but it actually helped her get the angle on the forehand winner. Advantage Ajla
Another deuce as Tomljanović keeps forcing Williams to come up with one more shot. I asked for a straightforward service game. Looks like we're not getting it.
Break point for Williams as she rips a forehand return at Tomljanović's toes, and the reply is long. And now she has a look at a second serve.
Oh and the forehand goes long from Tomljanović's racquet. Brutal. She's forcing herself to do it the hard way every set.
By Jon Healy
Serena Williams wins the second set in a tie-break!
Williams serves first and dictates from the back of the court, hitting the backhand winner. 1-0
Big serve down the T from Tomljanović for a rare free point on serve. 1-1
Deep return from Williams forces Tomljanović into an awkward backhand, which she dumps into the net. 1-2
Big serve, high return, and Williams bangs home the overhead for 3-1.
Tomljanović gets herself in a tangle running around the kick serve, and Williams capitalises on the weak return, banging home a forehand winner. 4-1
They head to the change of ends with Tomljanović serving at 2-4.
And an unreturnable serve gets Tomljanović back into it at 3-4.
Bunted return just drops in for Tomljanović, then she forces the error with a flat forehand that skims the baseline. Back on serve at 4-4.
Ace! Serena keeps it on serve. 5-4
Tomljanović really flattened out a couple of forehands there, but Williams stayed in it and came up with a brilliant forehand winner down the line to bring up a set point at 4-6.
Tomljanović sprays a forehand wide, and we're off to a decider!
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović holds serve to send the second set to a tie-break!
Williams will be digging deep, so Tomljanović will have to be on her game as we tick over two hours. And the second set isn't even done yet! This has been an amazing match. Everything we hoped for and more.
Rally of attrition ends with Williams missing a short backhand. She's kicking herself there. 15-0
But a double fault gives that point right back. 15-15
Point of the match?! Both players came up with remarkable shots there, but Serena finished things off with a crafty backhand to dig out a short slice. 15-30
BANG! Backhand winner down the line from Tomljanovićdespite someone shouting "Come on Serena" as she hit shot earlier in the rally. 30-30
The crowd gets behind Williams as Tomljanović has game point at 40-30, but we're heading to a tie-break!
By Jon Healy
Williams holds serve after losing three straight games
Perfect low drop volley from Williams gets her to 30-0, but every point that's not an ace is a struggle right now. She's feeling the effects of this match.
A long forehand gets Tomljanović a toe in this service game. 30-15
But an ace down the middle gives Williams two game points at 40-15.
Williams holds! Tomljanović went after a second serve and dumped it into the net.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović shows nerves of steel to hold serve to make it 5-5
So once again she serves to stay in the match. And she drops the first point as she fails to come up with a passing shot with Williams at the net. 0-15
Williams gives it back with a netted return. Tomljanović doesn't get many free points on serve, so that's huge for her. 15-15
A longer rally and Tomljanović dumps a backhand verrrrry low on the net. Maybe some fatigue sneaking in? 15-30
Just brilliant from the back of the court from Tomljanović, sending Williams from tramline to tramline. 30-30
And there's the hold! Amazing composure from Ajla Tomljanović.
By Jon Healy
Tomljanović breaks to get the second set back on serve
Brilliant passing shot from Tomljanović for a 0-15 lead, but Williams is still able to dictate with power if she lands her first serve, and gets back to 15-15.
And then an unforced error (as if such a thing exists in this match) from Serena makes it 15-30.
And it's 15-40 for Tomljanović thanks to brilliant backhand and then a bit of luck after messing up her short forehand and hitting it straight to Serena, but she couldn't land the reply.
Double fault. Tomljanović breaks back! WHAT?! After that marathon service game to simply stay alive in the set, she's broken back.
She has somehow found the energy to flip the momentum on its head yet again. This woman is amazing.
