Venus Williams pulls out of US open following autoimmune disease diagnosis

Venus Williams has been forced to withdraw from the US Open tennis championship after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

The 31-year-old tennis star revealed that she is suffering from Sjögren's Syndrome - a disorder that causes fatigue and joint pain - and descried it as an 'ongoing medical condition'.

"I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's US Open," she said in the statement to People.

The disease affects around four million Americans, and nine out of ten of whom are women, and symptoms include dry eyes and dry mouth and possible dysfunction to organs such as kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system.

She defeated Vesna Dolonts 6-4, 6-3 in the first round on Monday and was supposed to face 22nd-seeded Sabine Lisicki on Wednesday.

"I enjoyed playing my first match here and I wish I could continue but right now I am unable to," she said. "I am thankful that I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon."

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