Venus Williams withdrew from the WTA Tour's Rogers Cup starting here on Monday because of illness, organisers said. Williams said she wasn't feeling well and consulted a doctor on Sunday. She was diagnosed with a viral illness and said she was "extremely disappointed" she won't be able to play in Toronto.
Qualifier Zhang Shuai of China steps into Williams' first-round match Tuesday against former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Lourdes Dominguez Lino got the extra berth in the draw.