Having played just one tournament since mid-September due to various injuries and a recent bout of flu, Serena Williams is now itching to get back into competition with the Rio Olympics among her top priorities for the year.

The American world number one has not competed since her stunning loss to Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and says she has learned lessons from that defeat which she will use to her advantage.

“Whenever I lose, it definitely motivates me to do better,” Williams, 34, said on a conference call to promote her exhibition match with Caroline Wozniacki in New York next week.

“There’s a lot from that match (in Australia) that I feel like I can im-prove on and do a lot better. Hopefully I will achieve that this year.”

Success in Rio counts among her biggest goals for this year.

“Tennis players never really thought about winning the Olympics, you grew up thinking about winning grand slams but now, with tennis in the Olympics, of course you think about it,” she said.

“The Olympics have had such a big impact on everyone. It (the August Games) will probably affect my schedule a little bit. But I am really looking forward to it.”