Zimbabwean tennis start Cara Black is set to make her third straight appearance at the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, The Herald reported on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old player first represented Zimbabwe at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 before gracing the Games again four years later in Athens, Greece.

Black, a doubles specialist, was earlier this year given a wildcard by the International Tennis Federation to represent Zimbabwe in the women's singles competition at the Beijing Games.

This came after the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee applied to the International Olympic Committee for Black to be given a special dispensation, which would enable her to play singles in Beijing.

And Black, who is back in the country for a one-week break from the professional circuit, yesterday spoke about her passion for the Olympic Games and how she cherishes every moment she spends at the world's biggest sporting extravaganza.

Black, who indicated that she is likely to hang up her rackets in two years' time, said she felt honored to have been given another chance to represent Zimbabwe at the Olympics in Beijing.

"I'm really excited to be given a wildcard to play (singles) at the Olympic Games for the third time after having played at the same Games in Sydney and Athens."

Black said although she was now more of a doubles player, she was confident of doing well in singles in Beijing.

As part of her preparations for the Beijing Games, Black, who is scheduled to fly out of the country today for Germany, will first play in the German Open in Berlin, starting next Monday.

Although she has entered for the doubles competition in Berlin with her American partner Liezel Huber, she was also hoping to play singles at the same tournament if the event's organizers grant her request for a wildcard.

From Berlin, Black will move on to Rome for the Italian Open (May 12-18) and then take a few days off before she flies to Paris for the second Grand Slam of the year -- the French Open -- which will be played at Roland Garros from May 25 to June 8.