Get ready for a new Serena Williams.

The 40-year-old tennis superstar discussed her post-tennis plans on Monday after dispatching Danka Kovinic in her first match at the 2022 U.S. Open.

Williams was showered with cheers by a star-studded crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing in what will be the final tournament of her illustrious career. In a post-match interview with CBS’ Gayle King, Williams explained her decision.

“It’s been such a hard decision because when you’re passionate about something and love it so much, its hard to walk away,” she said. “Sometimes it’s harder to walk away than not. I was just like, all right, now’s the time. I have my family.”

With her husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia a few feet away from her on the court, Williams remained steadfast in avoiding the “R” word: retirement.

“I called it an evolution,” she said. “I have my VC company, Serena Ventures, we invest in a lot of people. I really want to spend more time at home and work on my spiritual life. It’s like Serena 2.0. It’s still gonna be crazy and intense.”

A 23-time Grand Slam winner and widely considered the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, Williams got a boost from a crowd that wasn’t so much anti-Kovinic as it was pro-Serena.

“The crowd was crazy,” she said. “Really helped pull me through.”

Catch all the action from Serena Williams’ final US Open tournament before her retirement. The New York Post has live coverage, updates and analysis as she faces Anett Kontaveit.

Pre-match, Williams was greeted on her way to the court with a highlight video of her career narrated by Queen Latifah — who also took in the match from the stands. She also received a congratulatory speech from Billie Jean King, who wore Williams’ favorite color, pink.

“You are fearless,” King said. “Thank you for sharing your journey with every single one of us.

“And guess what? You’re just beginning!”