Despite watching some of her biggest rivals hang up their rackets in recent years, five-time grand slam-winner Venus Williams says she still has plenty of goals to achieve in tennis.
"I love my job. I love hitting balls, running, jumping, chasing after that ball. I love what I do, so that's what keeps me motivated," the 28-year-old American said yesterday in Hong Kong ahead of a warm-up exhibition tournament for the Australian Open.
While many of her contemporaries, like Belgians Justin Henin and Kim Clijsters, and Switzerland's Martina Hingis have left the WTA Tour, the elder of the two Williams sisters said she's still hungry for more.
Williams has won Wimbledon five times and the US Open twice, but has had less success at the two other grand slams, reaching the final at the French Open in 2002 and the Australian Open in 2003.
"I haven't won the French or the Australian (Opens), although I've come pretty close, so those are definitely on my list," Williams said, adding that reclaiming the No. 1 ranking this year is a realistic goal.
The world No. 6, who enjoyed a strong season in 2008 with wins at Wimbledon and the season-ending WTA Championship at Doha, Qatar, said she's feeling healthy after a four-week break without tennis.
"Nothing to complain about right now," Williams said.
The American is playing in Hong Kong starting today as her only preparation for the Australian Open, which starts on January 19.
She captains the Americas at the team-format which also features world No. 1 Serbian Jelena Jankovic, Russians Vera Zvonareva and Anna Chakvetadze, Hungarian Agnes Szavay, China's Zheng Jie and India's Sania Mirza.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 7, 2009)
