Photos: Serena Williams’ final act | CNN

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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 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.