Venus Williams out of U.S. Open due to autoimmune disease

Minutes before she was due to play her second-round match at the U.S. Open, Venus Williams withdrew from the tournament due to an autoimmune disease with which she was recently diagnosed.

"I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's U.S. Open," Williams said in a statement. "I have recently been diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigueand joint pain. "

The website for the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation says as many as 4 million Americans live with the disease. Over 90 percent are women. The disease attacks the body's moisture glands with white blood cells and causes various symptoms ranging from dry mouth to debilitating fatigure.

This recent diagnosis is the latest in a longline of health problems for the 31-year-old tennis star.



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