Serena Williams waves farewell to the US Open crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic
Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the second most in tennis history
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September
Coverage: Daily radio commentaries across BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app, with selected live text commentaries and match reports on the website and app

Serena Williams waved farewell to the US Open and her illustrious career after she lost to a player from Australia.

She expects it to be her last match.

It will be the end of a professional career that brought 23 major singles wins for the American, who is considered the greatest of all time.

She had tears running down her face after the loss.

In the final game, the former world number one saved five match points but was unable to stop a sixth.

Almost everyone who watched her win her first major title in 1999 and five more of the best wins in her storied career rose to their feet when she left the court.

Tina Turner's hit "Simply The Best" boomed out over the sound system as she waved goodbye.

Williams was asked if she would retire after her performances this week. I should have begun this year. You never know. I don't think so.

Williams was overcome with emotion when she was interviewed in the middle of the court, thanking her family, team, crowd and her fans for their support over the years

I would like to thank everyone that's here, that's been with me for so long. Williams played her first professional tournament when she was 14 years old.

It all began with my parents. They are deserving of everything. I'm thankful for them.

I wouldn't be Serena if Venus wasn't around. She is the sole reason that Serena Williams exists.

Tomljanovic applauded her opponent as she took the microphone after moving into the fourth round.

The world number 46 produced a phenomenal performance to block out the noise and sense of occasion, shown by her clinical hitting in the final stages of a brutal contest which lasted three hours and five minutes.

Williams produces one last thrilling performance for A-list crowd

It was a sign of her status as an American icon and one of the world's most recognisable sport stars that she announced her retirement in an essay for Vogue.

She said she was "evolving away" from the sport and would end her career at her home major.

After being introduced as the 'Queen of Queen', Williams emerged on to the court and was narrated by Queen Latifah.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour and golfer Tiger Woods have sat in Williams' box in the past.

Russell Wilson, one of the country's biggest football stars, was with members of Williams' family on Friday.

Other people who were watching were tennis great Billy Jean King and film director Spike Lee.

Williams wore the glittery, figure skating-inspired dress she had specially created for the tournament, along with diamond-encrusted trainers, to make the occasion even more special.

Williams put on a show for a large audience.

The 40-year-old played some of her best tennis in a long while as she fought to prolong her career and put on one final show for those lucky enough to witness it.

How Williams' final match played out

Even the most nerveless players would be tested by waiting for one of the greatest icons in the sport as a partisan home crowd was being whipped up.

Williams breezed in with Tomljanovic already long out on the court, having arrived first after touching a bronze plaque at the players entrance.

The American looked tense and showed it in the first game, while Tomljanovic didn't seem to mind when she broke her opponent's service.

Williams took a break in the next game to take a lead and serve for the first set.

It was the worst time for Williams to have a bad game. The net cord trickled back to Williams' side of the court at 30-31 as a result of unforced errors from her racquet.

Growing in confidence as a result of the break, Tomljanovic hit clean winners off both wings - either side of a double fault from Williams - to break again for 5-5 and serve for the opener.

At the third opportunity, she sealed the set with a forehand winner.

The crowd inside the stadium was somewhat subdued when they saw Williams trailing.

It won't be for long. The world number 605 broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set and moved 4-0 ahead thanks to some ferocious winners and helped by two double faults from her opponent, which sent her back into raptures.

Williams was playing the best tennis she had seen in a long time when she was an analyst for the radio station.

Williams held from deuce after a slip in concentration allowed Tomljanovic to claw back one of the breaks.

Everyone in the place erupted once again, as Williams' trademark roar complemented with a fist clench and foot stamp was heard as she bent towards the court.

The anticipation was high as Williams tried to level the match at the first attempt, but she missed four set points.

When Williams needed the crowd's help, she responded with a composed passage of play to finally level the match after 84 minutes.

It was a one set shoot out.

After her physical effort this week in only her fourth tournament in more than a year, Williams looked to be suffering a dip in energy as she fell behind in the decider.

She had one last act of resistance.

In a final game lasting 15 minutes and 22 points, she succumbed by planting a forehand into the net, which led to the final applause of her career.

Serena Williams - 73 singles titles, four Olympic gold, 319 weeks at world number one, 39 Grand Slam titlesAround the BBC - SoundsAround the BBC footer - Sounds