Thanks for the memories, Queen.
Serena Williams’ career is over after Aussie star Ajla Tomljanovic became a giant hunter and ousted the tennis icon from the US Open in an epic third-round match on Saturday afternoon (AEST ).
Tomljanovic left the New York crowd in stunned silence as she slayed the 40-year-old’s fairytale send-off.
There were maddened scenes inside the famous Arthur Ashe Stadium as the home crowd went wild for Williams.
Watch live Tennis with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live coverage of ATP + WTA tournaments, including matches in each final. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Tomljanovic is into the fourth round after a tense three-hour 7-6 6-7 6-1 victory, but all focus was immediately on Williams, who is retiring as the greatest player of all time.
The fairytale run of a 24th career slam, a mark that would match Aussie Margaret Court’s feat, was shattered on Saturday, but Williams doesn’t need that magic number to be at the forefront of GOAT talks in women’s tennis.
It was clear on Saturday that there was one thing he refused to say even when talking about plans away from tennis.
It’s still impossible not to get emotional that Williams still didn’t mention the word “retirement” in his on-court interview and postgame press conference.
He dropped a potential bombshell at the end of the on-court interview when asked if there was any chance he would consider extending his career.
She replied, “I don’t think so, but you never know. I don’t know.”
Even when she announced her career was “evolving” outside of tennis last month, Williams refused to use the word “retirement.”
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m doing is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, towards other things that are important to me,” he said.
“A few years ago, I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after I started a family. I want to grow this family.”
She is a fighter unlike anything tennis has seen in a long time, and even with so many exciting plans, she will have to be dragged into retirement kicking and screaming.
It was such a cruel end for the emotional Williams after she defended a series of match points at 5-1 and even had break chances in Tomljanovic’s last service game, but Tomljanovic eventually held the nerves at the finish line to serve the match.
Williams broke down during his postgame interview and took a moment to compose himself as he thanked his family.
“Thanks dad, I know you’re watching,” he said.
“Thanks mom. Oh my gosh mom. I’m so thankful for them. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
“(Thanks to) everyone who has been by my side (for) decades, literally decades.
“It all started with my parents (mother Oracine Price and father Richard Williams) and they deserve everything.
“They’re happy tears, I guess.”
He also said, “It’s been a fun ride.”
The New York crowd had gone absolutely wild as she came within three points of ending her career in an epic second-set showdown with Tomljanovic.
The 40-year-old’s retirement tour has created wild scenes at the US Open this week, and it was another crazy atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday morning as Williams fought back to take the second set in a tie breaker
Tomljanovic had completely rocked the crowd by taking the first set 7-5 after Williams had served for the set leading 5-4.
The end of the set created a strange scene in the crowd of about 24,000 spectators, as silence replaced the deafening cheers.
The crowd was ready to explode when Williams had four set points on Tomljanovic’s serve at 5-2, but was unable to convert any of them.
He had to wait until 6-4 in the tiebreaker before finally converting a set point.
Williams’ reaction from the sidelines shocked the tennis world.
Veteran tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg wrote on Twitter: “Holy shit, Serena.”
New York Times reporter Adam Zagoria wrote that it was “an incredible drama”.
The Tennis Podcast tweeted: “Wow, wow, wow.”
Elsewhere, Nick Kyrgios takes on American JJ Wolf as he hopes to reach the last 16 for the first time at the US Open.
Williams stunned the world on Thursday when she came from behind to defeat world number one Anett Kontaveit in a thrilling second-round clash.
Playing in the final tournament of her career, Williams has received special treatment throughout the tournament and this has raised eyebrows with some tennis commentators.
Williams has entered the court in every match with special introductions, while her opponents have had to stand on the court as the crowd thanked Williams with a standing ovation.
It has put Tomljanovic in the worst possible position in tennis.
Australian great Jelena Dokic told Channel 9 it was “crazy” that Tomljanovic had to deal with.
The Times’ Stu Fraser previously described the practice as “highly disrespectful”.
After knocking out Kontaveit, Williams dared fans to dream of a fairytale 24th Grand Slam, but it was not to be.
Veteran and older sister Venus was knocked out in the first round on Thursday.
— with AFP