Serena Williams thanks sister Venus after the final

“She’s the only reason Serena Williams ever existed,” said the 23-time Grand Slam winner

No dry eye remained dry at Arthur Ashe Stadium after Serena Williams lost what was likely to be the final game of her career on Friday night.

After three tight sets, the 23-time Grand Slam winner lost to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.

In his post-match interview, Williams became emotional as he thanked his parents, including his late father, Richard Williams, who was the focus of the Movie King Richard.

“Thanks, dad. I know you’re watching,” she said tearfully. “Thank you, mom. Oh my God.”

“Thank you to everyone here who has been by my side for decades. Oh my god, it’s been decades. But it all started with my parents. And they deserve everything. So I am very grateful to them. Considering her tears to be “tears of happiness,” Williams credited her older sister Venus for making her storied career possible.

Williams thanked her friends and family, including her husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia, before thanking the record-breaking audience and the millions of fans who supported her throughout her 27-year career.

“It was an enjoyable trip. It was the most amazing trip and the most amazing trip I have ever done, I mean, in my life. I’m so grateful to everyone in my life who has ever said, ‘Come on, Serena’. I’m so grateful,” he said. “You brought me here.” Williams had said before the tournament that she would “step away from tennis” after the US Open, but she dismissed the question in a post-match interview earlier this week. But on Friday, Williams sounded more emphatic than he was asked if he was.

“I still can,” he added in his post-match press conference later tonight. “It takes more than that. I was ready to be a mother, to find a different version of Serena. I’m technically very young in the world, so I want to have a life while I’m still walking.