Venus Williams, U.s. Open | featured news

Venus Williams dropped out after revealing a diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome, which causes fatigue and joint pain.

She came to New York rusty, injured and, by tennis standards, aging. She'll leave after another nice run at a Grand Slam title, though nice runs are not ever what Venus Williams has played for. Williams fell 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Friday, ending a chance to win her first major championship in more than two years and her first title at Flushing Meadows since 2001.

Nobody can say Kim Clijsters took an easy path to her U.S. Open title last year. She played both Williams sisters.

This trick shot by Roger Federer was most definitely real. He's even hit it before. The five-time U.S. Open champion was up at the net when his first-round opponent, 96th-ranked Brian Dabul of Argentina, lofted a lob. Federer spun around to sprint toward the baseline. A couple of steps before reaching the wall behind the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and with his back to the net, Federer swatted the ball between his legs. The shot landed in a corner beside Dabul, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged.