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Despite her withdrawal from a warm-up tennis tournament in New Zealand, tournament director Craig Tiley has said that Venus Williams will participate in the Australian Open.
Williams pulled out of the tournament because of health-related reasons. She is suffering from Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disease and decided not to participate in the Auckland Classic that was to be played between January 2 and 7.
Tiley confirmed that he had communicated with Williams' agent and it was confirmed that she will be participating in the Australian Open. Tiley said, "I wanted to touch base but there's no change for her. She's coming,"
Williams has not participated in competitive tennis since September's US Open after the disease caused fatigue and joint soreness. She is currently ranked 102nd in the world after having won the Wimbledon five times earlier.
This year’s Australian Open begins from January 16. Caroline Wozniacki is the top-ranked woman while Kim Clijsters is the defending champion. She beat Li Na in the final to win the tournament. Venus had retired from the tournament in the third round because of a hip injury.
