The Australian Open is going to be missing a pivotal star on the women’s side of the field.

Venus Williams announced on Monday that she has withdrawn from the first Grand Slam event of the season.  Here is the press release posted on her official Web site:

I regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the 2012 Australian Open.  After several months of training and treatment, I am making steady progress to top competitive form. My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being ready to return to WTA competition. I have every intention to return to the circuit in February.

The Open is scheduled to begin on January 16^th. 

The 31-year-old American hasn’t played in a WTA event since she was forced to withdraw from the US Open on August 31^st after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. Since then it’s been a uphill battle to fight the nagging disease.

What exactly is Sjogren’s? It’s an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and joint pain. Here is a deeper definition courtesy of sjogrens.org:

Although the hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, Sjögren’s may also cause dysfunction of other organs such as the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system. Patients may also experience extreme fatigue and joint pain and have a higher risk of developing lymphoma.

With upwards of 4,000,000 Americans suffering from Sjögren’s, it is one of the most prevalent autoimmune disorders. Nine out of 10 patients are women.

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It’s a tough pill to swallow for Williams as her status among the elite in tennis is slipping away. She is currently ranked 100^th in this week’s WTA rankings and will likely fall further with her absence in a Grand Slam.

With her intentions of returning in February, a comeback is certainly is the works. Yet Sjogren’s make her health a day-to-day factor. With seven career Grand Slam titles, Williams is one of the most decorated players in women’s tennis history.

Let’s hope her timetable to return in February is realistic and we can watch her return to the court and challenge sister Serena and all of the young guns in the sport for at least one more year.