NEW YORK -- Serena Williams lost what is expected to be the last match of her transcendent tennis career Friday night, eliminated from the U.S. Open in the third round by Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 before an electric crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Unwilling to go quietly, Williams staved off five match points to prolong the three-hours-plus proceedings, as some spectators stood to watch, camera phones at the ready. No one -- save, of course, Tomljanovic -- wanted this to end.
It did on Tomljanovic's sixth chance, when Williams netted a shot.
Williams turns 41 this month and recently told the world that she is ready to start "evolving" away from her playing days -- she expressed distaste for the word "retirement" -- and while she has remained purposely vague about whether this appearance at Flushing Meadows definitely would represent her final tournament, everyone assumes it will be.
It was treated that way Friday night, and Williams cried on court immediately afterward. Asked whether she might reconsider, she replied: "I don't think so, but you never know."
If this was, indeed, the last hurrah, she took her fans on a thrill-a-minute throwback ride at the hard-court tournament that was the site of a half-dozen of her 23 Grand Slam championships. The first came in 1999 in New York, when Williams was just 17.
But she faltered against Tomljanovic, a 29-year-old Australian who is ranked 46th.
Williams gave away leads in each set, including the last, in which she was up 1-0 before dropping the final six games.
Andy Murray's latest Week 1 exit at a Grand Slam tournament did not discourage him. The three-time major champion still thinks he can go toe-to-toe with the best in men's tennis -- even after two hip operations, even as the years without a trip past the third round at any of the sport's biggest events stretch on.
After bowing out at that stage of the U.S. Open with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-3 loss across more than 3 1/2 hours against 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini on Friday, Murray chose to look on the bright side.
"I've got a metal hip. It's not easy playing with that. It's really difficult. I'm surprised I'm still able to compete with guys that are right up at the top of the game," the 35-year-old Murray said, resting his head on his left hand. "Matches like this, I'm really proud that I have worked myself into a position where I'm able to do that. I'm really disappointed that I didn't get over the line today. But I get reminded, like, 'This is the first time you've made the third round here since 2016.' It's been six years. It's been a difficult six years for me."
Coco Gauff, an 18-year-old American who reached the final at the French Open in June, made it to the fourth round at the U.S. Open for the first time with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Madison Keys, the 2017 runner-up in New York and seeded 20th this year.
Gauff now meets Zhang Shuai, who eliminated Rebecca Marino 6-2, 6-4.
In other action during the day session, Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur came back to defeat No. 31 Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and avoid the sort of early exit by a high-seeded woman that has filled the first week of play at the year's last major. No. 2 Anett Kontaveit (who lost to Williams), No. 3 Maria Sakkari and No. 4 Paula Badosa are all already gone, as are 2021 champion Emma Raducanu and 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez; No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 5 Jabeur have offered a bit of the expected.
Jabeur reached the fourth round in New York for the first time after going 0-3 in the third round since 2019.
"Finally," Jabeur said. "I know that I don't play the best on hard courts, but it's always amazing to see how I'm improving, how I'm pushing my limits."
She next plays No. 18 Veronika Kudermetova, who needed just 47 minutes to overwhelm Dalma Galfi 6-2, 6-0.
In the men's bracket, French Open runner-up Casper Ruud edged 29th-seeded Tommy Paul in five sets, while No. 27 Karen Khachanov moved on when his opponent, Jack Draper, stopped playing in the third set because of an injured hamstring.
The 13th-seeded Berrettini advanced to face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday by hitting more aces than the unseeded Murray, 18-5, delivering far more total winners, 55-24, and accumulating 15 break points, converting five, while facing only four.
Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, reacts during a match against Andy Murray, of Great Britain, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Coco Gauff, of the United States, returns a shot to Madison Keys, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Ons Jabeur, of Tunisia, reacts after defeating Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Andy Murray, of Great Britain, reacts during a match against Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Andy Murray, of Great Britain, reacts during a match against Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, returns a shot to Andy Murray, of Great Britain, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Coco Gauff, of the United States, returns a shot to Madison Keys, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Madison Keys, of the United States, returns a shot to Coco Gauff, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Gallery: Serena Williams eliminated from U.S. Open
