Priscilla Hon's US Open odyssey is over following a fighting straight-sets third-round loss to American Ann Li.
The Australian qualifier battled hard before succumbing 7-5, 6-3 at Flushing Meadows on Friday, local time.
Hon had reached the last 32 of a grand slam for the first time after winning three qualifying matches just to make the main draw in New York.
Her rewards for adding the prized scalps of Russian world number 20 Liudmila Samsonova and higher-ranked Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean are a rise to a career-best number 106 and a life-changing $US237,000 ($363,000) payday.
The 26-year-old would have been dreaming for more after rallying back from 3-0 and 5-2 down to level the opening set at 5-5 against Li.
But, spurred on by the home support, Li raised her game to take the set, then reel off three straight games to clinch the match in one hour and 45 minutes.
The key moment came in the fifth game of the second set, where both players played through errors and frustration and a string of deuces, with Hon failing to take advantage of a number of break points before Li held serve after 12 minutes to lead 3-2.
The American then broke and held again to get to 5-2. Hon staved off defeat with one more hold, before Li served out the match.
Hon's departure leaves 15th seed Daria Kasatkina as the last Australian standing in the women's singles draw.
Kasatkina plays two-time Open champion and former world number one Naomi Osaka on Sunday AEST for a place in the last 16.
World number eight Alex de Minaur is the lone Australian left in the men's singles.
He faces German Daniel Altmaier in the fourth round on Sunday AEST.
AAP/ABC
