Venus Williams has targeted a dream double of success at Wimbledon followed by Olympic gold in Beijing.

Williams, 28, starts her bid for a fifth All-England Club title on Tuesday when she faces British wildcard Naomi Cavaday and the American hopes the grass-court season marks the start of her march to glory on two fronts.

Although Williams has endured some patchy form this season, the world number seven is still convinced she can turn 2008 into a year to remember by retaining the ladies singles title and then taking gold in China.

As soon as Williams finishes challenging for Wimbledon, her focus will turn to Beijing.

Williams clinched a gold medal double at the Sydney Games in 2000 when she won the singles and then the doubles with her sister Serena.

She dedicated those victories to her father Richard, who fulfilled a lifetime's ambition when he saw his daughter cap her journey from the projects of south-central Los Angeles to the peak of professional sport.

Eight years later Williams is more aware of the significance of winning an Olympic gold and wants to repeat the feat for herself this time.

"I love playing the Olympics. It's not necessarily a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it only comes around once in four years," she said.

"I've had some good success there in Sydney obviously and winning the gold was above my dreams.

"Winning with Serena was above my dreams. I never dreamed of that. I definitely take it as an honour, and hopefully I can bring some more gold home.

"It was definitely a goal for my dad. Ultimately, the first time that's why I played, because I knew he always wanted us to play.

"He always dreamed of us playing the Olympics. After that first Olympics, I definitely wanted to play the Olympics because I wanted to play and not just because it was his dream. That was really my main reason. But now I want to play for me."

While Williams makes no attempt to hide her Olympic ambition, Wimbledon will never be far from her thoughts.

Despite failing to win a WTA Tour title this year and crashing out of the French Open in the last 32, Williams remains one of the main contenders for the title.

Grass suits her game perfectly and six appearances in the final of her favourite Grand Slam, including four victories, testify to her ability to over-power opponents on the sport's fastest surface.

As if that isn't enough to terrify Cavaday and the rest of the players trying to take Williams's title, the American insists walking out on Centre Court as the defending champion will add an extra edge to her game.

"Of course it's nice coming to a tournament where you have a really good record, because obviously that gives good confidence," she said.

"I would like to think I have that on my side, I think the advantage is that you won last year and it will never be taken away from you. It will always be yours, and you can hug the plate at night if it gets cold!

"But mostly I think about, What is it going to take this year and what will I have to do well this year?'. How will I have to adjust? How is the grass playing? What challenges do I need to overcome? I just really focus on what's at hand."

Maria Sharapova's revelation that she plans to wear shorts at Wimbledon this year will ensure that, in the first week at least, the womens' tournament gets as much attention for fashion as the action on the court.

Williams, who owns her own a fashion label, has no intention of following suit or attempting to catch the eye for anything but her tennis.

"It will be all white. Nothing special," she said. "I'm not thinking that much about my outfit, to be honest. I'm just all about the yellow ball."

AFP