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Venus Williams' 20th and potentially final Australian Open campaign has ended with a brave, injury-hit second-round loss to Italian qualifier Sara Errani.
An injury-hit Venus Williams was beaten but not broken as she exited the Australian Open for potentially the last time.
The legend succumbed 6-1 6-0 to Sara Errani after bravely playing through two injuries to fight out the second-round loss in her 21st Melbourne Park campaign.
Williams entered the match with a taped left knee but, when trailing 5-1 in the opening set, she badly rolled her ankle and took back-to-back medical time-outs.
Despite being in tears as she received treatment on both her injuries, the 40-year-old opted against retiring from the match and bravely played on with a heavily strapped ankle.
Williams won her first point back but was clearly inhibited and barely able to move around the court, with Errani quickly breaking serve and polishing off the opening set.
The seven-times grand slam champion fronted up for the second set but Errani quickly stormed to a 5-0 lead, before Williams attempted to offer a final resistance on serve.
But she was unable to outmanoeuvre the Italian, who converted her third match point to break serve and seal victory.
"I was so sorry for her but after (the injury break) she was playing good," Errani said.
"So it was not easy to play even with someone who is injured - she was hitting really strong then really slow
"I'm really sorry, I hope she will feel great.
"She's a really good champion - of course it's an honour for me to play her in such a good stadium."