karlpejera: US Open 2011: Venus Williams withdraws due to auto-immune disease

? American unable to play second-round match
? Robin Soderling pulls out of men's draw with virus

Venus Williams withdrew from the US Open yesterday with an auto-immune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome, but said that her career is not finished.

The 31-year-old, pictured, who has twice been singles champion at Flushing Meadows, pulled out only moments before her second-round match against the German Sabine Lisicki. Williams said her condition "affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain". She added: "I enjoyed playing my first match here and wish I could continue but right now I am unable to. I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon."

Sjogren's Syndrome affects as many as four million people in the US, the vast majority women, and there is no known cure. The rheumatic disease attacks and destroys the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva, causing dryness of the eyes and mouth and increased fatigue. It can lead to more serious conditions.

Williams and her sister, Serena, have missed much of the past year with illnesses and injuries. Serena said she "came close to death" when complications from a cut foot and subsequent operations led to a pulmonary embolism.

The Swedish No6 seed Robin Soderling also pulled out of the men's draw with a recurrence of the virus that forced him to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open. His agent, Nina Wennerstrom, said: "He is feeling really bad. His stomach was hurting. He experienced head pain and the doctor recommended him not to play. The doctor thinks it is related to the throat problems he had a couple of weeks ago."

The Irishman Louk Sorensen played the Brazilian lucky loser Rogerio Dutra Da Silva instead ? but Sorensen, like his compatriot Conor Niland, who could not finish his match the previous day against Roger Federer because of food poisoning, had to retire, with cramp.

Kevin Mitchell

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