Black Tennis Pros

TORONTO — Venus Williams withdrew from the WTA Tour's Rogers Cup starting on Monday because of illness, according to organizers.

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.

The strong Rogers Cup field still includes Williams' sister, Serena, and world number one Caroline Wozniacki, No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 5 Maria Sharapova.

Serena Williams, who missed 11 months with a string of health problems, returned in June and won the WTA title in Stanford in late July.

Venus Williams, ranked 34th in the world, has had a disappointing season hampered by hip and abdominal injuries.

"I was really excited to play Toronto," Venus Williams said in a statement. "I came here ready to go and was practicing. I wasn't feeling very well and had to see the doctor today.

"I was diagnosed with a viral illness and unfortunately am unable to play. I am extremely disappointed. I'm very sorry to the fans and tournament."

The talent-laden Toronto tournament is a tuneup for the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open that starts on August 29 in New York.

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Top seed Gael Monfils lost the toss and first two games before unleashing his service power to crush Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 6-1 and reach the second round of the South African Open on Tuesday.

The 23-year Frenchman ranked 13 in the world was clearly stung by the early form of the veteran Slovak and lost just one of the remaining 13 games at the Montecasino entertainment centre in a leafy, upmarket northern suburb.

It was a floodlit match settled by serving with Monfils outstanding apart from an occasional double-fault blip while 32-year-old Hrbaty battled as his dream start swiftly transformed into a nightmare.

Long before the end of the first round tie the only issue was how long it would take Monfils to wrap up victory and the end came on 53 minutes and 36 seconds via a stinging first serve from the Switzerland-based Frenchman.

"I had a good game and hope to continue this form throughout the week as my ambition is to emulate compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and win the title," said Monfils.

"The altitude was not a big problem as I had two good days of practice and playing at night made it a little easier for me as there was less humidity," he added after a sweltering day in the South African financial capital.

Monfils, born in Paris to Caribbean parents and a huge fan of late American tennis great Arthur Ashe, has a second round date with compatriot Josselin Ouanna, who ousted Israeli Harel Levy in straight sets.

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