Venus Williams Forced to Withdraw from Auckland: Fan Reaction
Venus Williams, the 31-year-old former world No. 1, withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. An announcement on the event's website dated December 20 contained a statement indicating that Venus would be unable to compete in the tournament, slated to begin January 2.
On the road to a comeback
Williams was on the court over the late fall in several exhibition appearances, but hadn't played in a competition since the U.S. Open. It was in New York where she withdrew unexpectedly and announced that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disorder.
"The good news is now I know what's happening after spending years not knowing," Venus said after withdrawing from the U.S. Open. "I feel like I can get better and move on."
ASB Classic tournament director said it was sad to hear Williams would not be coming to Auckland, but he was quick to point out the event still is fielding many top players.
"We are disappointed to have lost a player of her caliber," 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' withdrawal.
Next month's ASB Classic field is one of the strongest in tournament history with four seeds in the top 20…This is still an exceptional field despite the withdrawal of Venus Williams."
Venus, ranked at No. 103, wasn't among the top seeds, but certainly would have been a fan draw. Germany's Sabine Lisicki is the top-ranked player currently scheduled for Auckland.-http://sports.yahoo.com
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