Tennis great Venus Williams has been diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome aka syndrome de sjogren, after symptoms pointed to the condition. Sadly, she's pulled out of the U.S. Open Tennis tournament.
The two-time women's champion and Grand Slam champion seven times, made the startling announcement today, after performing well in the Open. In a statement to the media and her fans today, she said:
"I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's U.S. Open. I have recently been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain."
So what is Sjogren's syndrome, and what are the symptoms of the disease?
Essentially, it is a condition that affects about 4 million Americans, according to a USA Today report.
In fact, 9 out of 10 patients newly diagnosed like Venus Williams are women. It is a condition in which the body's own defenses attacks it using white blood cells.
The symptoms manifest as dry eyes and mouth, and joint pain. However, it can wage an attack on the internal organs of the body like the liver, lungs, and other vital areas of the body.
Sjogren's syndrome can make you really tired, and playing tennis requires a lot of energy to be competitive. Obviously, this is a tough decision to make for a player who once dominated center court at Wimbledon and the US Open matches.
"I enjoyed playing my first match here and wish I could continue but now I am unable to. I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon," she said.
Like her younger sister, Serena Williams, Venus Williams is dealing with health issues that is impacting her game. Recall that Serena had a near death experience with a blood clot on her lungs. Thankfully, she is back from her death-bed.
Vee hasn't played much in 2011 since she fell in the fourth round in Wimbledon. Perhaps, the fatigue was the reason she hasn't shown much in tennis tournaments.
Hopefully, the diagnosis and symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome does not sideline Venus Williams too long. Undoubtedly, she is receiving the best treatment money can buy.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Comments: 3
And when I heard the diagnosis, I immediately knew what it was and found it terribly believable. In person---and anybody who has been around her can tell you---Venus is extremely calm. Bordering on lethargic. You would never know she did something physically strenuous for a living. I took pictures with her and of her right arm and added a caption about how elegant and unthreatening it looked in person--but happened to be the fastest in the history of the women's game. My favorite photo of her--just an arm. Much respect for her and wish her well.
The white players like Capriati never had to answer about shoplifting. Sharapova has never had to prove her shoulder problem was real. Nobody ever doubts anything in white skin in tennis. Their word is sufficient. But the Williams are always necessarily lying about whatever they say. Whether she drops out of a match while WINNING or LOSING they all doubt her. And here she didn't even start the match.
Typical white trash. Probably the same white trash that sat in the stadium for years and years setting off their cell phones to ring just when the Williams tossed the ball to serve. Happened all the time. For years. I've got all those tapes. Nevermind the matches that were literally stolen from them live that McEnroe and the commentators themselves and tournament officials even conceded. White players never faced that. None of it.
Some white people on this other site were actually saying Serena had to be "juicing" to even get her physique. They have gone now to accusing her of using drugs. Because they are white people whose brains can't comprehend a black woman's physique---so it's got to be a fraud. And women get flat chested when they juice, dumb@sses.
Typical white trash.