Photos: Serena Williams' final act
Serena Williams acknowledges the crowd after losing in the third round of the US Open on Friday, September 2.
John Minchillo/AP

In pictures: Serena Williams' final act

Updated 0319 GMT (1119 HKT) September 3, 2022

Serena Williams acknowledges the crowd after losing in the third round of the US Open on Friday, September 2.
John Minchillo/AP

The sun has set on Serena Williams' historic tennis career.

The 40-year-old legend, who said she will "evolve away" from the sport after the US Open, lost her third-round match at the tournament on Friday, falling 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 to Australia's Ajla Tomljanović.

"Thank you so much. You guys were amazing today," she told the crowd in an on-court interview after the match. "It's been a fun ride."

Over her career, Williams won 23 grand slam singles titles, which is the most in the Open era and one behind the all-time record held by Margaret Court. She also won four Olympic gold medals and over $94.5 million in prize money.

She and her older sister, Venus, transformed the sport when they became professionals as teenage phenoms. They've also teamed up for many grand slam doubles titles, winning 14 titles together.

The two sisters reunited on the court Thursday with a first-round doubles match against Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková. They lost 7-6 (5), 6-4.

People cheer on Williams at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Williams reacts after losing to Ajla Tomljanović on Friday. "These are happy tears," Williams said during her on-court interview.
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Williams motions a heart to her fans after the match on Friday.
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Williams shakes hands with Tomljanović after the match.
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Williams returns a shot on Friday. The match lasted a little more than three hours, and Williams fought off five match points in the final game.
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Fans cheer on Williams on Friday.
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Williams serves during Friday's match.
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Williams' coach, Rennae Stubbs, and mother, Oracene Price, watch on Friday.
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Williams returns a shot on Friday.
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Williams reacts during Friday's match.
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Tomljanović celebrates after winning the first set Friday.
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Fans watch as Williams is introduced at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.
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Williams walks onto the court ahead of her match Friday.
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Williams and her sister, Venus, played doubles together on Thursday. They lost in the first round, however, to Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.
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Williams, lower left, serves during Thursday's doubles match.
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Williams takes pictures with fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium after her second-round singles win on Wednesday. She knocked off second-seeded Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2.
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Williams celebrates after her win Wednesday.
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Williams reaches for a shot during Wednesday's match.
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The fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered every point Williams won on Wednesday, just as they did on Monday.
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Williams watches a replay during Wednesday's match.
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Williams prepares to serve Wednesday.
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Golf legend Tiger Woods reacts to a Williams point on Wednesday.
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Kontaveit, a 26-year-old from Estonia, returns a shot.
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Williams reacts after winning the first set tiebreaker on Wednesday.
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Williams has won six US Open singles titles during her illustrious career.
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Williams serves during Wednesday's match.
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Williams and Kontaveit pose before the start of their match.
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Fans enter Arthur Ashe Stadium for Wednesday's match.
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Williams' sister Venus, left, watches Wednesday's match near Woods and his partner, Erica Herman.
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Williams walks onto the court before her match on Wednesday.
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Fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium show their love for Williams after Monday's opening win over Danka Kovinic.
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Tennis icon Billie Jean King congratulates Williams after Monday's match. King also spoke during a post-ceremony recognizing Williams and her tremendous career.
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The crowd was firmly in Williams' corner on Monday, cheering every point she won.
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Williams reacts during the match on Monday.
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Fans outside the stadium watch the Williams match on a video screen Monday.
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Williams returns a shot on Monday. It was just her second win since her return to the sport in June. She had missed a year through injury.
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Fans cheer for Williams during Monday's match.
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Williams' daughter, Olympia, takes a picture before her mom's match on Monday.
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Williams serves during Monday's match.
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Williams and Kovinic pose for photos before playing Monday. Kovinic, a 27-year-old from Montenegro, is ranked 80th in the world.
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Williams walks onto the court before her match Monday. Many consider her to be the greatest women's tennis player of all time.
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Williams has been wearing diamond-encrusted shoes during the tournament.
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Williams warms up before her match on Monday.
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Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, watches Monday's match with their daughter, Olympia.
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Fans show their support for Williams outside the stadium Monday.
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Williams walks to the practice court before her match on Monday.
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Fans pose for photos next to a life-sized image of Williams on Monday.
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