Rio Olympics 2016: Venus and Serena Williams aim for record fourth doubles gold

The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena Williams, are making another run for gold at the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics. One of the most successful teams in Olympic tennis history, the duo have entered the draw at this week's Rome Masters in preparation for the summer games.

The pair has won the tennis doubles gold three times so far — in 2000, 2008 and 2012. The sisters have won gold individually too with Venus claiming it at the 2000 Sydney Games while Serena won it at the 2012 London Olympics.

"Obviously we would love to play in the Olympics. I love playing with Venus, she's the best partner and hopefully she feels the same about me. We make a great team. Hopefully we'll be able to at least win a couple of matches here, just to shake off the dust and keep playing," Serena said, as quoted by The Salt Lake Tribune.

This will be the first time since 2014 that the Williams sisters will pair up, with Serena admitting that the doubles draw will be a challenge. Having received a wildcard entry at the Rome Masters, the sisters open their campaign against the Slovakian pair of Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik.

"The doubles teams have gotten really good, so we look forward to it."

The 21 Grand Slam winner has not been seen in action in the recent past, missing a number of tournaments due to recurring illnesses and injuries. The current World No 1 is yet to win an ATP title this season. Her last win came at the Cincinnati Open in August 2015.

Serena missed the recently concluded Madrid Open due to fever. She said: "I wasn't feeling really good for the past several weeks and even the past few days. But right now I'm better. I will see how I'm doing when I step on the court for the first time, but overall I think I'm feeling a lot better."

With defending champion Maria Sharapova provisionally suspended due to a failed drugs test, Williams goes into the tournament as the favourite to win her fourth Rome Masters title.