Venus Williams out of New Zealand tournament

Venus Williams AFP FILE PHOTO

WELLINGTON – Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has pulled out of an Australian Open warm-up tournament in New Zealand as she continues to battle a debilitating illness.

Williams is suffering from Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease, and after playing a number of recent exhibition matches she announced Tuesday she was not ready to play in the Auckland Classic, which starts on January 2.

“We are disappointed to have lost a player of her calibre,” tournament director Richard Palmer said.

“While withdrawals of this nature are part and parcel of sport, we sincerely feel for the fans who will also be disappointed by the news of Venus’s withdrawal.”

Williams, whose ranking has slipped to 102 in the world, has described her medical condition as affecting her energy, causing fatigue and joint pains.

Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, the world number 15, is top seed in a field that also includes world top 20 players Peng Shuai of China, Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.