NEW YORK (AP) — Two days after playing her first match in two months, Venus Williams suddenly pulled out of the U.S. Open on Wednesday, revealing she recently was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain.

The 31-year-old American has won seven Grand Slam titles, including at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001.

“I enjoyed playing my first match here, and wish I could continue but right now I am unable to,” Williams said in a statement released by the
tournament. “I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.”

She was supposed to face 22nd-seeded Sabine Lisicki in the second round Wednesday. Williams cited a virus when withdrawing from hard-court
tuneup tournaments since losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon in late June.

She returned to action Monday, beating Vesna Dolonts 6-4, 6-3 in the firstround in New York, then said: “No one is more in one-matchat-a-time mode than me now at this tournament. It will just be one match at a time, for sure.”

According to the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation website, the disease is a chronic autoimmune illness in which people’s white blood cells attack their moisture producing glands. Common symptoms include dry eyes and dry mouth