MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)âVenus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open on Monday, prolonging her absence from the tennis tour because of an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and joint pain.
The seven-time Grand Slam title winner announced on Twitter and her website that she wouldnât play in the yearâs first major tournament, which starts next week. She added, though, that she plans to be back in action next month.
Williams hasnât played competitively since Aug. 29 at the U.S. Open. Two days later, she pulled out of that tournament, revealing that sheâd been diagnosed with Sjogrenâs syndrome.
âI regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the 2012 Australian Open. After several months of training and treatment, I am making steady progress to top competitive form. My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being ready to return to WTA competition,â Williams said in a posting on her website Monday. âI have every intention to return to the circuit in February.â
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said Williams was âvery disappointedâ that she was not able to play in Melbourne.
âShe had hoped sheâd be further along in her preparation but is not quite ready for Grand Slam competition,â Tiley said in an email to The Associated Press. âSheâs an amazing champion and sheâs had a tough year battling illness and injury. We wish her all the best and look forward to seeing her back in Australia soon.â
Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, a former doubles partner of Williams, said the Americanâs health must come first.
âSheâs been unlucky with the virus thing,â Wozniacki said after her second-round win Tuesday at the Sydney International. âIâm not completely sure what it is exactly, but the most important thing is the health.
âTennis, itâs a game. Iâm sure sheâll come back and fight and try to come back to the top again. But most of all, the most important thing is that youâre healthy. Hopefully sheâll be 100 percent healthy by February.â
The 31-year-old American is a former No. 1 who is 100th in this weekâs WTA rankings. Sheâs dealt with a series of health problems, including a hip injury that forced her to withdraw from last yearâs Australian Open, and a left knee injury that kept her on the sideline between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2010.
Since reaching the semifinals at the 2010 U.S. Open, Williams has played only 11 matches.
After winning her opener at Flushing Meadows in Augustâwhich was Williamsâ first match in two monthsâshe withdrew shortly before her second-round match there.
At that time, she described the way sheâd been feeling this way: âIt was just energy-sucking, and I just couldnât play pro tennis.â
Her younger sister Serena, whose 13 Grand Slam titles include five at the Australian Open, badly sprained her left ankle at a tournament in Brisbane this month. Itâs not clear whether Serena will be able to play at the Australian Open.