The veteran American tennis star Venus Williams says she's quit the U.S. Open because she's suffering from a chronic illness that could threaten her future in the sport.
The two-time U.S. Open champion withdrew less than an hour before she was due to play Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the second round.
Then she issued a statement explaining that she's been recently been diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome,an energy-draining disease which causes joint pain.
However she says she isn't thinking of retiring.
Meanwhile on court there were early exits for Marion Bartoli, Dominika Cibulkova and Yanina Wickmayer each losing to lower-ranked opponents.
But the only male seed to lose was Nicolas Almagro although the sixth seed Robin Soderling,, pulled out because of injury.
Andy Murray Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick all progressed.