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A tearful Samantha Stosur has put the full stop on her outstanding career following a loss in the mixed doubles event at the Australian Open.
Key points:
- Stosur's career finishes with a loss in the Australian Open mixed doubles event
- She says she is "very blessed" to have the career" that she enjoyed
- Stosur won the 2011 US Open singles title, defeating Serena Williams in the final
Stosur had already announced she would be retiring from tennis for good in Melbourne, while she quit singles at the tournament 12 months ago.
She and fellow Australian Matt Ebden fell 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 to Demi Schuurs of Netherlands and Croatian Nikola Mektić in the first round of the mixed doubles on Saturday night.
Following the match, Stosur was given a standing ovation from the crowd on court three, leaving the 38-year-old in tears as she reflected on her career.
"I've been lucky to have the success that I've had and obviously that's what we try and do it for," Stosur said in her on-court interview.
"I've been very blessed to have the career that I've had and to be able to do it in a way that I've enjoyed myself with the people around me."
Stosur lost in the opening round of the women's doubles alongside France's Alizé Cornet earlier in the tournament.
The 38-year-old told a media conference on Saturday night that she was overwhelmed by the emotion of playing in her final Australian Open.
"It's been an incredible, incredible week since I announced that it was going to be my last one," Stosur said.
"I had a great time out on court for the couple of matches that I had here. I felt incredible support.
"It's been nothing but incredible. I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as I can."
'One of those gems'
Ebden paid tribute to his mixed doubles partner.
"She's one of the kindest, most genuine, nicest, humble people I know," he said.
"Everyone around her says the same thing. It's no secret. But it's really rare to find such good people in the world. She's really one of those gems, those angels.
"It's been an honour to know her and be friends with her now. I hope to stay in touch with her for the rest of our lives."
The highlight of Stosur's career came in 2011 when she defeated Serena Williams in the US Open singles final.
It broke a 31-year major singles drought for Australian women and followed her appearance in the 2010 French Open final, where she was runner-up to Francesca Schiavone.
Stosur enjoyed a career-high ranking of number four in the world in 2011.
Stosur had mixed results in the singles tournament at the Australian Open, with fourth-round appearances in 2006 and 2010 her best performances.
The Queenslander won four major doubles titles and claimed three mixed doubles crowns.