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Despite winning her first match in the U.S. Open, Venus Williams has dropped out of the tournament at the last minute. She was scheduled to play against Sabine Lisicki today, but instead appeared on Good Morning America to announce she has been diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.
While Williams has suffered from the effects of the disease for years, she was diagnosed just a few weeks ago after her health worsened over the summer. A diagnosis for Sjögren’s often takes over six years, and Williams says finally knowing the problem is a “huge relief.”
Williams will begin treatments as soon as possible, although some will take 3-6 months before they have any effect. She also says she’s “not exactly sure what my journey will be, but I do know that I feel really positive about getting back on the court and being able to at least get back to normal.”
Watch the video of Venus Williams on Good Morning America below:
