Venus Williams pulls out of US Open

Venus Williams has pulled out of the US Open due to illness.

The two-time champion was scheduled to play Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki in their second-round match, but withdrew after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease.

The 31-year-old has already pulled out from two hard court tournaments over the summer with a virus.

Lisicki will now face either Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova or the USA's Irina Falconi in round three.