Evergreen American Venus Williams has dismissed any notion of announcing her retirement anytime soon, saying she is eager to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The 37-year-old had a successful year in the absence of her sister Serena through pregnancy.
She climbed to number five in the singles rankings after finishing runner-up at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the WTA Finals.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner has competed in five previous Olympics tournaments, starting in 2000.
She has won three gold medals in the women’s doubles event with Serena and one gold medal in the singles competition.
“I have no plans of stopping soon,” Williams told American magazine Entrepreneur.
“It seems somehow that 2020 Tokyo is on the horizon. Isn’t that wild? I‘m trying to stick around for that.”
The Williams sisters along with ATP Tour veterans Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have re-established their dominance at the top of the sport.
Serena winning her 23rd grand slam title aged 35 at the 2017 Australian Open.
Spaniard Nadal, 31, reclaimed the men’s number one spot with six trophies this year, while 36-year-old Federer finished second after winning seven titles.
The pair split the season’s four grand slams between them.
The sisters will resume their rivalry next season as Serena is expected to make a long-awaited return following the birth of her daughter in September.(Reuters/NAN)
