SERENA WILLIAMS is back in action at the US Open tonight in what could be the final match of her legendary career.
In the American superstar's way is world No 45 Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round clash at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams, 40, is expected to retire from tennis following defeat at the US Open, but after beating world No 2 Anett Kontaveit last time out she heads into the match bang in form.
- Start: time: 7pm ET/ Midnight BST
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- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 3-0* Tomljanovic
Serena holds to consolidate the break, and the roars just keep getting louder and louder.
Tomljanovic looked to be taking control but Serena has found a new level.
Amazing comeback.
.Credit: AP - Sunni Upal
Williams 5-7 *2-0 Tomljanovic
Serena breaks! A huge effort and the crowd are on their feet.
The American just far too good there for a few points. Nothing Ajla could do about that.
There's life in the Williams camp again.
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Williams 5-7 1-0* Tomljanovic
What a hold! Gutsy from Serena!
She digs incredibly deep amid a Tomljanovic onslaught to get off on the right note in the first set.
The momentum has really flipped and Serena is having to do everything just to stay with her opponent at the moment.
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Williams 5-7 Tomljanovic
Game and first set.
A sublime service game from the 29-year-old seals the first set for her.
She wins four games in a row after trailing 5-3.
Huge effort needed from Serena now. Ajla looks good here.
- Sunni Upal
Williams 5-6* Tomljanovic
A brilliant game from Tomljanovic and she breaks again.
It's three games in a row and she'll serve for the first set.
She's completely bossed the last 10 minutes or so, dominated the rallies.
Arthur Ashe Stadium falls silent.
.Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Sunni Upal
Williams *5-5 Tomljanovic
A big escape for the Aussie.
Serena had her at 15-30 and her serve was looking shaky with a double fault early in the game.
But she finds a way through and levels the first set at five games apiece.
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Williams 5-4* Tomljanovic
It's not over yet. Tomljanovic breaks back and the first set still has more to go.
Credit to the Aussie for keeping Serena under pressure on her serve and she forces the break.
On we go in the first set.
.Credit: EPA - Sunni Upal
Williams *5-3 Tomljanovic
Serena breaks to love! She'll serve for the first set.
You sensed that the pressure was just mounting on Tomljanovic.
She missed her first serves there and it cost her.
A standing ovation from the crowd, they might blow the roof off if Serena holds here.
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Williams 4-3* Tomljanovic
Serena is feeling it! She's right up for this!
She screams 'COME ON'a couple of times after winning points in that game and the crowd love it.
Another hold, Serena stays ahead again.
Huge pressure on Ajla on a night like this and with her nose behind every service game.
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Williams *3-3 Tomljanovic
All square again as the Aussie holds onto her serve.
The rallies are competitive and very high quality.
Serena looks to be moving well and showing no signs of fatigue from playing three nights in a row at the age of 40.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Williams 3-2* Tomljanovic
Serena holds.
The first serve isn't quite there for her but she's battling through and more than holding her own from the back of the court.
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Williams *2-2 Tomljanovic
That's a good game from Tomljanovic.
Solid serving and she has her first hold of the night as well.
All square – nothing to choose between them so far.
.Credit: AP - Sunni Upal
Williams 2-1* Tomljanovic
Big serving brings Serena the first hold of the night.
The first serves started hitting their spots there and it made a huge difference.
Russell Wilson and Ciara are in the player's box tonight.
.Credit: EPA - Sunni Upal
Williams *1-1 Tomljanovic
An instant response. Serena breaks back with some powerful returning.
Both games have been very similar, the returner has managed to get the first hit in and control the points.
All square again.
.Credit: Reuters - Sunni Upal
Williams 0-1* Tomljanovic
Not the start Serena was after. She's broken in her first game.
The Aussie looks to have settled very nicely indeed.
A few errors from Serena there, she hasn't yet found her range.
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Here we go
Right then, the warm-ups are done.
Serena has the balls in hand and ready to serve.
We're underway on Ashe.
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What a noise
A huge ovation for Serena as she enters the arena.
I think the welcome might just get louder every time.
Imagine what it would be like if she made the final. Imagine.
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Here they come
A gentle applause for Tomljanovic as she makes her way onto Ashe first.
And then it's time for another Serena x Queen Latifah video introduce the tennis legend.
.Credit: Rex - Sunni Upal
Almost time
Right, the atmosphere is building nicely on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
We're just a couple of minutes away from welcoming the players out onto court.
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Sister act
Serena was in doubles action last night, but her and Venus were knocked out in the first round.
It's all on the singles now for the 40-year-old icon.
A loss tonight and it could be all over for her, there's no doubles safety net to fall back on.
.Credit: EPA - Sunni Upal
A sea of people
The doors are open on Arthur Ashe and the crowd are flooding in.
It's a sea of people. The Billy Jean King National Tennis Center is absolutely buzzing.
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Famous faces
These Serena nights have been a place to be seen this week.
On Monday the likes of Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton (what a duo) were out and about.
And we all loved seeing Tiger Woods on Wednesday.
No word yet on who'll be out on the town on a Friday night, but I'll keep you posted.
.Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Sunni Upal
Here she comes
Serena in the house.
She arrived a short while ago…
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Day session
Arthur Ashe Stadium is currently in a change around after the day session.
Two matches have already been played on the main court.
First up, the No 13 seed from Itally Berrettini took out former champion Murray in four sets.
And a short while ago, Gauff got the better of Keys in the all-American showdown.
.Credit: Alamy - Sunni Upal
The journey so far
If we're being honest, quite a few people expected this journey to be over by now.
Serena was given a massive ovation on Monday night with a few tributes as well.
She made it through that match against Kovinic and then on to face the No 2 seed on Wednesday night.
Taking down Anett Kontaveit in such brilliant fashion really has got fans dreaming of a stunning triumph here before she retires.
.Credit: Alamy
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