Serena Williams bid an emotional goodbye to tennis after enjoying what’s more likely to be her closing skilled match on Friday.

The participant bowed out of the third-round of the US Open match after shedding in three units to Ajla Tomljanovic.

Following her earlier victories in opposition to Danka Kovinic and Anett Kontaveit, her followers hoped her swansong might have a fairy-tale ending.

However, regardless of a memorable second-set fightback in a raucous ambiance, there shall be no record-equalling twenty fourth grand slam singles title, with Serena succumbing to a 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-1 loss.

After lacking a closing forehand, Serena – who performed her first skilled tennis match again in 1995 – walked to the web earlier than waving to all sides of Arthur Ashe Stadium whereas Merely The Greatest performed over the loudspeakers.

Addressing the group via tears, she mentioned: “Thanks a lot, you guys have been superb. I attempted. Thanks daddy, I do know you’re watching. Thanks mother.

“I simply thank everybody that’s right here, that’s been on my aspect for thus a few years, actually many years, However it began with my mother and father they usually deserve the whole lot so I’m actually grateful for them. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thanks Venus. It’s been a enjoyable experience.”

She had beforehand revealed she had determined the time was proper to step away.

“This week has been actually nice,” she mentioned later. “Simply a lot assist, a lot love. It was actually superb and overwhelming. I’m so grateful for it. The entire crowd was actually eager to push me previous the road. I’m so grateful and grateful for that.”

She added: “It takes a whole lot of work to get right here. Clearly I’m nonetheless succesful. It takes much more than that. I’m able to be a mother, discover a unique model of Serena. Technically on the planet I’m nonetheless tremendous younger, so I need to have a little bit little bit of a life whereas I’m nonetheless strolling.”

Former first girl Michelle Obama led tributes to her buddy and her “superb profession,” on social media saying she would go on to “remodel lives” together with her abilities.

Different well-known faces together with Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson and Tiger Woods additionally hailed Serena as a “legend without end”.