23-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams bid farewell to tennis after her 3rd round defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic at the US Open. Serena who intends to evolve away from the sport was defeated 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1 in 3 hours and 5 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Serena Williams was leading 5-3 in the first two sets, but eventually, Tomljanovic grasped the opportunities as they came to end probably the last run of Serena Williams’s career.
First Set
Although the audience was constantly behind Serena Williams, Tomljanovic did not appear to be intimidated by it. She broke Serena in the opening game to take the lead right away. But Ajla was unable to consolidate. Serena broke Tomljanovic to lead the set 5-3, but she struggled with her serve game at this moment.
Unforced errors surfaced as Tomljanovic broke back for 5-4. She grew in confidence and broke once again to go up 6-5. She served for the set and quickly went up 40-0. Serena tried to get back in it but Tomljanovic converted the third set point with an inch-perfect forehand winner to close out the set.
Going down a set and coming back is never going to be easy and the crowd sensed it. The stadium went somber after the set.
Second Set
It didn’t remain like that for long as Serena broke Tomljanovic at the beginning of the 2nd set to go up 2-0. She then led 4-0 and was looking pretty comfortable. Serena was giving her everything to prolong her time on the court. Intense winners and double-faults from Tomljanovic sent the crowd back to its peak.
Tomljanovic got back one of the breaks but Serena held her serve to love to go up 5-2. A trademark roar from Serena Williams erupted in the crowd. Tomljanovic made it challenging for Serena to close the set out easily as she crawled back to level and send it to a tiebreaker.
Serena was greatly elevated by the crowd as she played with composure to win the tiebreak 7-4 to level the match.
Third set, the decider
Serena Williams lacked energy which was understandable after her 84-minute intense effort to level the match in the 2nd set. Tomljanovic capitalized as she converted the break points to go up 5-1 in the decider. The end looked close but not before Serena rallied one last time.
The final game which lasted 15 minutes and 22 points saw Serena Williams eventually go down with her forehand planting itself in the net. The end was filled with emotions and ovations.
Reactions from Serena Williams after her final match
“I thank everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side so many years, decades. Oh my gosh, literally decades,” said Williams, who played her first professional tournament as a 14-year-old in 1995.
“But it all started with my parents. And they deserve everything. So I’m really grateful for them. “Thank you, daddy, I know you’re watching,” Williams said in her on-court interview. “Thanks mom.”
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“I wouldn’t be Serena if it wasn’t for Venus,” she continued. “She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed. “It’s been a fun ride.”
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Serena Williams earlier lost the opening round of her doubles match with her sister Venus Williams. Serena leaves the sport as one of the greatest athletes to play and arguably the greatest Women’s Champion the world will ever see. We wish her all the best for the future.
