The three-time winner, and 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, faced rising star Elena Rybakina in the fourth-round of that year’s tournament.

Williams won three singles titles at Roland GarrosCredit: Getty
It would turn out to be Williams’ final appearance on the hallowed red clay at Roland Garros.

A leg injury ruled her out of the 2022 edition and she announced her retirement from the sport following the conclusion of the 2022 US Open.

At the second Grand Slam event of the year, the American 7th seed lost 6-3, 7-5 to inspired Kazakh star Rybakina in their match on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The then-39-year-old was powerless to stop her 21-year-old opponent and a bizarre incident late in the second set summed up her afternoon.

Williams was on serve in the ninth game of the set with the score level at 4-4.

Her first serve of the game was met with a solid back-hand return from Rybakina and the pair continued to trade shots.

Rybakina, the 21st seed and future Wimbledon champion, then fired a backhand straight down the middle of the court which was clearly going long.

Instead of letting the ball fly past the baseline, Williams inexplicably let it hit her racket and subsequently lost the point.

Williams let the ball hit her racket instead of letting it go longCredit: Eurosport

It was a rare brain freeze for one of the game’s greatest ever playersCredit: Eurosport

Williams knew she’d made a big mistake at a pivotal point of the matchCredit: Eurosport
“It’s hit her racket! She’s lost the point, even though the ball was going out!” exclaimed Eurosport commentator Chris Bradnam.

Annabel Croft added: “Oh my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.

“She didn’t know whether to go in or stay back, let it go, play it… wow!” Bradnam replied. “Wow.”

“That was so unlucky, wasn’t it?” Croft added.

“She just gets caught out here, I can’t believe it! It’s just hit her racket!”

The match ended shortly after with the youngster scoring a huge upset win in a changing of the guard moment.

Rybakina marched onto the quarterfinals where she lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova while Williams, although unaware at the time, had played her last match in Paris.

“It was definitely close,” said Williams afterwards. “There is literally a point here, a point there, that could change the whole course of the match.

“I’m not winning those points – they could literally change everything.”

Williams’ last Grand Slam title came at the Australian Open in 2017 and she would ultimately miss out on equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles.

Williams said an emotional farewell to tennis in 2022Credit: AFP

The Williams sisters have both had incredible careersCredit: Getty
In a September 2022 issue of Vogue, the former world no. 1 announced her plans to “evolve away” from tennis after the 2022 US Open, citing a desire to focus on her family and venture capital firm.

The 14-time major doubles champion is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and they have two daughters – Alexis Olympia, six, and Adira River, who turns one in August.

After an emotional farewell tour, Williams was beaten by Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 US Open in what was her final match as a professional.

However, this week she raised eyebrows by hinting at a possible return to tennis.

“I’m ready to hit some balls again,” Williams wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.

It’s not the first time Williams has hinted at a sensational retirement U-turn.

Barely a month after the 2022 US Open, Williams said: “The chances (of me returning) are very high.

“You can come to my house and (see). I have a court.”

At the end of 2023, she tweeted: “I’m working out to my tennis pre match playlist… aiiiii I get so pumped. Too much nostalgia.”

It seems unlikely she’ll make a return to the sport at 42, but if anyone can do it it’s Williams.

Qualifying for the 2024 French Open is currently underway with the tournament proper starting next week.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will have his eyes on a 25th Grand Slam title, while reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek will be aiming to win the tournament for a fourth time.

The main draw starts on Sunday, May 26 with the men’s and women’s singles finals set for the weekend of June 8.