RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - American veteran Venus Williams on Saturday (Aug 13) became only the second tennis player in history to win five Olympic medals after reaching the mixed doubles final.

The 36-year-old teamed up with Rajeev Ram to beat India's Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 2-6, 6-2, 10-3 in the semi-final.

Britain's Kathleen McKane also won five medals between 1920-24.

On Sunday, Venus also bids to become the first ever tennis player to win five Olympic gold medals.

She currently shares the record of four golds with her sister Serena.

Williams and Ram will face either fellow Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock or Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek in the final.