In an interview with the New York Times, Venus Williams says she is planning to continue her career and could be back as early as this fall. Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open on Wednesday, announcing that she has Sjogren's syndrome—an autoimmune disease that has affected her energy levels.
"I’ve been told it’s going to take three to six months for all the medication to sink in," said Williams, adding that she received a diagnosis last month. "Looking back, it’s affected my career in a huge way... A lot of times I’ve had to pretend I felt good when I felt terrible."
Despite winning her first-round match without significant problems, Williams said she felt tremendously fatigued during the encounter and could barely move her arm after warming up on Wednesday.
The problem has no cure but can be managed with medication. "I played a match at the Open, so I feel positive I can come back... I’m going to do the best I can," said Williams.