Serena Williams US Open Retirement

Make sure you're by a TV Monday night for Serena Williams' first-round match at the U.S. Open. It could be the last time we ever get to see the GOAT in action.

Make sure you're by a TV Monday night for Serena Williams' first-round match at the U.S. Open. It very well may be the last time we at any point get to see the GOAT in real life.

Catch up speedy: Williams, 40, said earlier this month that she plans to "develop away from tennis" after the U.S. Open. Accordingly, each match could be her last.

Up first? World No. 80 Danka Kovinić of Montenegro (7pm ET, ESPN).

What they're saying: "When Serena was playing in the past, the atmosphere already was electric, so I can't imagine what it'll be out there currently," said seventeenth seed Caroline Garcia.

By the numbers: Williams' dominance has been unmatched since winning her first of an Open Era-record 23 Grand Slam titles at this very tournament 23 years ago, when she was only 17.

She originally reached No. 1 three years later in July 2002 and most as of late held that spot in May 2017 — the most significant length of time ever between No. 1 rankings (man or woman).

Meanwhile, she two times achieved the "Serena Slam," holding all four major titles on the double. And after winning singles gold at the 2012 Olympics, she became the main player with a Career Golden Slam in the two singles and copies.

The 10,000 foot view: Williams has been on a mission to pass Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles since winning the 2017 Australian Open. In any case, notwithstanding reaching four finals from that point forward, she remains stuck on 23.

Matching Court at this point appears to be rather impossible for the 413th-ranked Williams.

Indeed, however: If ever there were a place to compose a storybook finishing it would be the U.S. Open, where she's reached at least the semis in each of her last 11 appearances.

The main concern: Win or lose this evening — or at any other point during this tournament — Williams' legacy is already firmly established. This is the ideal opportunity to just soak in the final snapshots of quite possibly of the greatest athletic career we'll at any point have the pleasure of seeing.