The American has won 23 Grand Slam tournaments but has never claimed a medal in the singles at the Olympics, although she did win the doubles titles with her sister Venus at the 2000 and 2008 Games in Sydney and Beijing respectively.

 

The 28-year-old had to withdraw from the Athens Olympics with a knee injury and was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Games in Beijing last year, losing to eventual gold medallist Elena Dementieva, of Russia.

 

Williams is the richest female tennis player in history, and finished last season as the world number one, including winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, the third time she had claimed the All-England title, but her first there since 2003.

This year saw her break the record set by Belgium's Justine Henin, for most prize money earned by a female tennis player in one season.

She claimed an incredible $6.5 million (£3.8 million) during the year, which was more than Rodger Federer.
 

In doubles, Williams finished as world number three with sister Venus, despite playing only six tournaments as a pair.
 

But it is London 2012 title she still craves, she claimed in an interview broadcast on Sky News today.
 

She said: "I would love to win the gold medal in the London Olympics.

"Any type of medal would be great, but I've never won an Olympic gold, so that's my long term goal."

 

 

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