SERENA WILLIAMS will NOT play at the Olympics this summer.
The American legend, 39, won singles gold at London 2012 and is a three-time winner in the doubles.
But she will not take part in Tokyo next month – though refused to explain why.
Asked if she had decided to compete at the greatest sporting show on earth, Williams replied: ”I’m actually not on the Olympic list, so… Not that I’m aware of.
“If so, then I shouldn’t be on it.
“There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day.”
Williams goes into Wimbledon this week hoping to land that elusive record-equalling 24 Grand Slam singles’ title.
The world No8 has been stuck on 23 since winning the Australian Open in 2017 and has lost the last two SW19 finals.
Like a lower-league side raising their game against Manchester United in the FA Cup, Williams has had to deal with lesser players playing the match of their lives against her throughout her career.
But she insists it has made her a better player and helped her achieve her phenomenal success.
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The Michigan-born superstar, who takes on Belarussian Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Tuesday, added: “I’ve had a big X on my back since ’99, since I won the US Open.
“When players play me that hard every single tournament, every single match, every single Grand Slam, it just doesn’t matter where, you just get better.
“It’s been difficult mentally when someone might beat you and they lose directly in the next round almost every time. At the end of the day that’s why I’m Serena.”
