Two-time champion Venus Williams of the USA has withdrawn from the U.S. Open due to an illness.
Williams was scheduled to play 22nd-seeded Sabine Lisicki in the 2nd round.
In a statement afterward, she said: “I have been recently diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain.”
The 31-year-old 36th ranked Williams pulled out of two hard-court tuneup tournaments this summer because of a virus. In her first match in two months, Williams beat 91 ranked Vesna Dolonts of Russia 6-4, 6-3 in round one at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
