Tennis legend Venus Williams is targeting the 2020 Olympics even if that means playing at 40 years old. (Photo : Getty Images/Al Bello)
Tennis superstar Venus Williams is aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as her probable swan song of her decorated tennis career.
Williams, when asked about her plans for retirement in an interview on Hallmark Channel's Home and Family reported by TMZ, said that she is targeting the next Olympics before retiring.
Williams added that there are times when she thinks of focusing on a life outside the game after turning professional at the young age of 14 but despite being 36 years old, the challenge and pressure of competing makes her wants to stay.
"If I can be out there, I will be," Williams said.
If Williams qualifies for the Tokyo Olympics, already her sixth Olympics, she would turn 40 years old in June 2020, a month before the world's biggest sporting stage. She has won four gold and one bronze medal starting from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and has not missed a single Olympics since. In Tokyo, she hopes to make it her last.
"I'm kinda targeting the next Olympics and that's in what 3-and-half years and I'm not counting!" Williams heartily said.
Williams, who was a perennial No.1 in rankings by the World's Tennis Association, is ranked No. 6 as of July 25, 2016. In the last Olympics in Rio, she showed she still has so much gas in the tank by taking silver in the mixed doubles category with partner Rajeem Ram.
The older sister of Serena Williams, Venus was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, a disease that causes the joints swelling and numbness. The disease did not stop her as she worked her way into the top, winning three titles last year.
Williams has 49 titles under her belt, ninth all time. She also took home seven Grand Slam championships, the last in 2008 in Wimbledon where she defeated sister Serena.
