Tennis great Venus Williams has let a golden opportunity to claim her first Australian Open win in five years slip, succumbing to a heartbreaking first-round exit to Olga Danilovic.
The 45-year-old held a 4-0 lead over the 24-year-old Serb in the third set but lost the next six games to go down 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams was handed a wildcard, becoming the oldest ever women's player in the main draw at Melbourne Park.
Danilovic, who had never played two-time Open finalist Williams, relished the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with a tennis legend.
"I told myself before the match I really want to take this moment," Danilovic said. "These things don't happen every day and playing against Venus Williams is something I cannot take for granted.
"But there was a lot of nerves. At 4-0 I just said to myself, 'OK, just play. Just take everything out and just play point by point', and I'm very happy I managed to get this one.
"But it was such a pleasure playing against such a legend."
Crowd favourite Williams claimed the first two games in rapid fashion before Danilovic broke back and levelled the contest.
But the 45-year-old wasn't afraid to match 24-year-old Danilovic for power. Williams went up 5-4 then teed up a set point on Danilovic's serve with a vicious forehand winner - but the Serb saved it and took the set to a tiebreaker.
The American earned another three set points and converted the third, to the crowd's delight.
Danilovic composed herself and flew out of the blocks in the second set, breaking Williams early and racing to a 5-2 lead before claiming the set.
Williams responded, ruthlessly clubbing her way to a 4-0 lead in the decider. But she failed to close out the set and let Danilovic - who broke back twice - back into the match.
Williams' service game at 4-4 extended for more than 14 minutes before Danilovic finally broke and earned a chance to serve for the match.
And Williams could only watch on as a forehand clipped the net and ricocheted out to hand Danilovic victory.
"It was such a great game, such a great moment. The energy from the crowd was amazing. That lifted me up so much," Williams reflected.
"She played a great game. Also some luck there, as well. That's just the sport. That's how it works sometimes. But it was an amazing moment.
"At 4-0 [up in the third] I felt good. Also it's the biggest lead I've had since I've been back (smiling). In a lot of ways I'm having to relearn how to do things again, if that makes any sense.
"I'm really proud of my effort today because I'm playing better with each match, getting to the places that I want to get to.
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"Right now I'm just going to have to keep going forward and working on myself and working to control my errors. Those are things, too, that come with playing extra matches, like getting your feet in the exact right position, choosing the right shots, all of those things that I'm still learning.
"It's kind of weird, but it's super exciting to have played that well and to get myself in that position and come very close."
An emotional Danilovic pounded her chest in celebration as Williams bowed out, smiling graciously as the adoring crowd applauded her.
For Danilovic, a potential second-round meeting with No.3 seed Coco Gauff awaits.