WATCH: "Take a bow, Sammy!" Stosur calls time on 24-year career after final doubles match

FLASHBACK: Sam Stosur retired from singles competition at last year's Australian Open. Her defeat in mixed doubles alongside Matt Ebden on Saturday marks the end of her professional tennis career.

Sam Stosur wiped away tears as she waved an emotional goodbye to fans at Melbourne Park, after the Aussie great and partner Matt Ebden fell in the first round of mixed doubles on Saturday.

The 2011 US Open champion and former doubles world No. 1 announced last week that the Australian Open, her home Grand Slam, would be her final professional tournament. After bowing out of women’s doubles earlier in the week with Alize Cornet, the 4-6, 6-3, [10-6] defeat to Demi Schuurs and Nikola Mektic marked the end of her storied tennis career.

“It’s really hard to put into words [how I’m feeling],” Stosur said during a post-match interview.

“I can’t believe the journey that I’ve been able to get on: Dreaming as a little kid, and to then be able to finish here, all these years later, in front of friends and family and the Aussie fans that have supported me forever."

“I’ve been lucky to have the success that I’ve had, and obviously that’s what we try to do it for," she added. "But I’ve been very blessed to have the career that I’ve had, and be able to do it in a way where I’ve always been able to enjoy myself and the people around me.”

The well-wishes soon came pouring on social media for the 38-year-old from Brisbane, who played her first professional match in 1999 at the age of 15: