Serena Williams played her last career match on Friday night at her beloved Arthur Ashe Stadium. Serena lost to Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 after three hours and five minutes of a grueling battle. As always, the American left her everything on the court, fighting like a lion in the opening two sets before running out of steam in the decider.
Thus, Serena competed for the last time on the Tour, ending her incredible career at 40 years and heading towards the legends of our game. Tomljanovic won eight points more than Williams thanks to that deciding set, preserving energy and overpowering the 23-time Major winner to find herself in the last 16.
Serena was a more aggressive player, hitting 50 winners and errors and rushing to the net to finish the points. Still, it was not enough to propel her to the top despite an incredible battle until the end and five match points saved!
Ajla broke in the encounter’s first game, and Serena pulled it back straight away after the Aussie’s forehand mistake.
Serena Williams ended her career in the US Open round three.
Both players served well in the next five games, and Williams opened a 4-3 advantage with a backhand down the line winner.
The American broke at love in game eight and served for the opener at 5-3. Tomljanovic broke back in game nine and held in the next one to level the score at 5-5. Ajla grabbed another break in game 11 with a backhand down the line winner and wrapped up the opener with a forehand crosscourt winner on her serve at 6-5.
Williams started all over in the second set and broke twice in a row to forge a 4-0 lead. Ajla served to stay in the set at 2-5 and fended off four set points to extend the battle. Serena could have claimed the set in game nine, but she got broken at 15 to keep the rival in contention.
Both players served well in the rest of the set to introduce a tie break, a must-win one for the American. Serena opened a 4-1 advantage before Ajla climbed back to 4-4. Williams cracked a forehand down the line winner to move 6-4 in front and wrapped up the set in the 11th point to introduce a decider after two hours and 13 minutes.
Serena lost ground in the final set and experienced three straight breaks to fall 5-1 behind. Not willing to surrender, Williams fended off five match points on Tomljanovic’s serve in game seven. Ajla converted the sixth match point after Serena’s forehand error that pushed her into the fourth round and the American into history.
