Serena Williams breaks down on court amid farewell heartache at US Open

Ajla Tomljanovic has ended Serena Williams' storied career with a famous third-round US Open triumph over the retiring legend in New York.

Tomljanovic silenced the sellout, partisan crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium with a stirring 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 third-round victory over the 23-times grand slam champion on Friday night.

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Williams battled to stay in the match after slipping behind 5-1 in the deciding set but couldn't hold off an inspired challenge from Tomljanovic.

After shaking hands with the beaten former champion, Tomljanovic promptly left the centre stage for Williams in a classy act for the 23-time grand slam champion.

The gravity of the occasion hit Williams during an emotional post-match interview in which she thanked her family for inspiring her to levels of greatness in women's tennis.

“It’s been a fun ride,” she said.

“Thank you daddy. Thanks mum. Oh my god, mum.

“I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Williams even teased fans with a response to a question about her future that suggested maybe this wasn't the end for the 41-year-old.

She replied: “I don’t think so, but you never know. I don’t know”.

Serena's most beautiful tribute was saved for big sister Venus, who looked like she was struggling to hold it together watching from the stands.

“These are happy tears, I guess. I don’t know," Serena said.

"And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn't Venus. Thank you, Venus.”

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Tributes to Williams came pouring in on social media after the match, as fans praised the extraordinary legacy that the American has left on tennis.

The epic encounter lasted three hours and five minutes with Tomljanovic finally prevailing on her sixth match point.

The last titanic game stretched more than 15 minutes alone.

For all Williams' fighting spirit, Tomljanovic could not to be denied with the two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist advancing to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time after her illustrious opponent netted a forehand into the net.

Turning 41 in three weeks, Williams announced last month she was "evolving away from tennis" after more than two decades dominating the women's game.

The American will walk away one major title short of Margaret Court's all-time record 24 grand slam singles crowns.

Williams, though, remains the holder of the most grand slam singles titles in the 54-year era of professional tennis, having eclipsed Steffi Graf's 22.

All up, she won six US Open titles, Wimbledon and the Australian Open seven times each and the French Open on three occasions.

Alas, her last slam came while three months pregnant with daughter Olympia at the 2017 Australian Open when Williams beat older sister Venus in the final.

Williams subsequently lost four more grand slam deciders in her obsessive pursuit of Court's record, all four in straight sets - at Wimbledon and the US Open in both 2018 and 2019.

with AAP

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