She was the last player to ever beat Serena Williams in a Grand Slam tournament but she never made the WTA top 30

   

Serena Williams’ tennis journey came to an end in 2022 when the American finally called it a day on her illustrious career.

Williams dominated on the WTA Tour for the best part of two decades, winning 23 major titles since making her Grand Slam debut in 1998.

She collected seven Australian Open titles, three Roland Garros crowns, seven Wimbledon championships, and emerged victorious at her home Slam, the US Open, six times.

In August 2022, aged 40, Williams announced to the tennis world her decision to retire, with her final tournament scheduled to take place at Flushing Meadows later that month.

At her last US Open campaign that year, she made it to the third round, adding two more Grand Slam wins to her tally.

 

The last player to ever beat Serena Williams at a Grand Slam event

Williams defeated Danka Kovinic in a straight-sets first-round clash and battled past Anett Kontaveit in round two.

In the third round, however, she met Ajla Tomljanovic, who, in a decisive third set, handed the legend the last defeat of her career.

Tomljanovic, who reached a career-high ranking of 32 in 2023, had only advanced past the third round at a Grand Slam three times prior to facing Williams.

The Australian made the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2014, and appeared in back-to-back quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022.

In her bout with Williams, she won the first set 7-5, but narrowly conceded the second set in a tiebreak, losing 7-4 in the set-decider.

Despite the rapturous US crowd solely behind Williams, Tomljanovic kept a cool head and took the third set 6-1, ultimately ending the career of arguably the greatest female player of all time.

Serena Williams’ message to the US Open crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic

In her on-court interview after the match, Williams was in tears and delivered a message to the home crowd.

She said: “Thank you so much, you guys were amazing. I tried. Thank you, Daddy, I know you’re watching. Thanks Mom.

“I just thank everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side for so many years, literally decades, but it all started with my parents, and they deserve everything, so I’m really grateful for them.

“I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you, Venus. It’s been a fun ride.”

Her sister, Venus Williams, is yet to officially retire from the sport, and will feature as a wildcard at the Washington Open.