"She had been ill for a few days with a bad virus. She had an upset stomach and she was coughing up a lot, you could see she was really struggling,' said US captain Mary Jo Fernandez, who faced the media in Williams' place.
This is the first time in her career
that Venus will lose in the opening round. She's said to be suffering
with a virus and was heard coughing during the match. She will now play
in the doubles with Serena.