Carla Suárez Navarro couldn't imagine a better ending to her Wimbledon career: Centre Court, under the roof, against World No.1 Ashleigh Barty, with her mother filming every moment on her phone from the player's box. The 32-year-old Spaniard, who will retire after this season, played a fantastic second set to force Barty into a decider, but the Australian closed out the win 6-1, 6-7(1), 6-1 to advance to the second round. 

"I think Wimbledon make me a really good gift," an emotional Suárez Navarro said after the match. "I really enjoy. I cannot ask for anything else better than this day. One of my last matches here against Ash, No.1 of the world, Centre Court, with the roof. Was amazing.

"I really enjoy everything I passed through. I think now, today, I am the most happy player in the tournament, for sure."

Suárez Navarro progressed to the Round of 16 three times in her career, and even though the surface was the most difficult one for her game, the former World No.6 relished every moment.

"I really enjoy to play on grass, but it's difficult to play because we only have two or three weeks of grass during the year," she said. "Everything is going too fast always. But, well, it's one of the most beautiful tournaments in the year. Always when I come back, I'm really happy to be here. Everything is so beautiful. Everyone playing in white I think is really special. I have really good memories."

The moment was not lost on Barty. After the win, the top seed waved to the crowd before stepping aside and directing the applause to Suárez Navarro, who received a standing ovation as she walked off the court. 

"She deserves nothing but the best," Barty said. "I just said to her, 'It was a pleasure to share the court with you.'

"She's an exceptional person, a great fighter, a great competitor, and very well-loved and respected in the locker room. She's going to be sorely missed. I wanted to give her the appreciation that she thoroughly deserves. The crowd was exceptional. They gave her a remarkable reception as well as she's walking off the court."

Suárez Navarro will next head to the Tokyo Olympics as part of Spain's National Team before turning her eyes on her final farewell at the US Open in September.

Here's how the tennis community reacted to Carla's Wimbledon farewell.