Serena bids farewell to tennis after being knocked out of the US Open, but how did she retire?

Serena Williams loses to Ajla Tomljanovic in U.S. Open farewell

It was a fitting and full-circle finale for one of sports' most legendary champions.

"I don't think so, but you never know," she said.

Tomljanović said she was feeling sorry because "I love Serena just as much as you guys do."

"I've been down before," Williams told reporters after the match. "I've been down, like, 5-1 I think before and come back. I don't really give up."

Confirming Serena's departure, Tomlianovic said, "What she has done for me and for the tennis world is amazing."