Lindsay Davenport might be number one at the end of the year. She might also be retired.
The 28-year-old American this week has the opportunity to reclaim the number one ranking while competing in the Filderstadt Grand Prix in Germany. If it does not happen this week, it will almost certainly happen by the end of the season.
But that does not alter any ideas she has harboured about retiring.
"In my mind nothing's changed," Davenport said in Filderstadt ahead of her opening match on Wednesday.
It was in the German town that she first took over the number one ranking six years ago.
Currently ranked two behind France's Amelie Mauresmo, Davenport said: "I still feel I'm more towards the end of my career than anything else.
"I still haven't decided what I'm going to do. My focus is on finishing this year and doing well and not worrying about what happens after 2004. I'm in a great position to try and finish the year number one.
"That's my goal now and to try to win some of these tournaments. It's exciting. I've won six titles already and I'd love to be able to add to that, and then I'll see."
Davenport won four consecutive tournaments during the American hardcourt season and went into the U.S. Open as one of the favourites.
But she suffered a hip injury and struggled to complete her semifinal against eventual champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, losing 1-6 6-2 6-4.
Being unable to claim her fourth Grand Slam title was a bitter blow and regaining number one would definitely be second best in her mind.
"Winning the U.S. Open would have meant a lot more than becoming number one and that's really what I was aiming for," said Davenport, who was last ranked number one in January 2002.
If she does give up playing at the end of the season, it will not be to go out on the road again as a coach.
"I'll probably take some time off from the tennis world and just stay at home and try to start a family," she said.
"Get settled in that regard, and then maybe after a few years get back in the tennis world in some way, whether it's commentating or helping with the Fed Cup.
"But probably I'll stay out of tennis for two to five years or so and step back for a little while."
