Nick Tsagaris - Sam Stosur holds off retirement to chase rare fifth Olympics berth

Nick Tsagaris - Sam Stosur holds off retirement to chase rare fifth Olympics berth

The lure of joining an elite crowd at a fifth-straight Olympic Games is keeping Australian tennis player Sam Stosur motivated as she enters her 21st year on the world tour.

The world number 99 is already in the shadow doubles squad for the Tokyo Olympics and believes she can crack singles contention with strong results in early 2020, starting with the Brisbane International.

"That's going to be a real priority, to make sure I'm there and competing at another Olympics," Stosur said.

"If I can keep my ranking relatively high for doubles then I'll be able to play that and singles, you never really know until closer to the time.

"With singles, sometimes people don't know if they're playing until the day before it starts so even if you don't think you're in initially you may well move in."

If Stosur does play in Tokyo, she will become just the fifth Australian to compete at five Olympic Games and will join: •Natalie Cook (beach volleyball) •Mary Hanna (equestrian) •Jian Fang-Lay (table tennis) •Andrew Hoy (equestrian), who holds the Australian record of seven Olympic appearances.

It would be the cherry on the top of a career that already includes 16 straight seasons in the top 100.

Of active players, only Serena Williams has eclipsed that feat.

Williams and Stosur also feature in another rare crowd, as two of the three oldest female players in the top 100, along with Venus Williams — all of them 35 years and over.

"I'm still playing this year coming and hopefully the year after; I haven't got any plans to stop any time soon," Stosur said. "[Motivation] sometimes wavers a little bit because it is hard to keep doing everything you need to, and what has always worked.

"When you're not getting the results and the outcomes that you want, it can become a little demoralising.

"I have had a few little meltdowns along the way but fortunately nobody really sees those so you can bounce back and keep going."

Tenacious player recognised with award

The Gold Coast product's tenacity has become a hallmark of her tenure in the game, which was recognised with the Tennis Australia's 2019 Spirit of Tennis Award.

"Champions, and Sam being the 2011 US Open champion, it's the way that they are wired," Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley said.

"They just have this pursuit and constant desire to get the best out of themselves.

"As long as Sam is continuing to perform on the world stage and her body is in great shape and her mind is great then I think she can compete at the highest level for a while.

"The numbers would support that; the average age of the top 100 men and women these days is around about 27.

"Gone are the days of teenage grand slam champions. These days is it possible to perform and excel in the prime of your career."

By: abc.net.au