Venus Williams

Months of ill will that had been simmering on the women's tennis tour bubbled to the surface Friday in the form of a bizarre chest-butting incident between Irina Spirlea and Venus Williams during their U.S. Open semifinal, which Williams won. It occurred after Williams held serve and was up a break at 4-3 in the second set. The players walked to the sideline for the changeover and neither gave way while negotiating the narrow space between the end of the net and the umpire's chair.

Clippers guard Chris Paul was selected Monday to the NBA All-Defensive team, and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant failed to make the list for the first time since 2005. Paul led the NBA in steals per game (2.4) for the fifth time in six years and was joined on the first team by Miami's LeBron James, New York's Tyson Chandler, Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka, Memphis' Tony Allen and Chicago's Joakim Noah. The second team consisted of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley of Memphis, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Indiana's Paul George and Boston's Avery Bradley.

Tennis star Venus Williams has withdrawn from the U.S. Open shortly before her second-round match, announcing that she has been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can lead to dry eyes, dry mouth and painful joint problems. "I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon," said Williams, who has spent considerable time off the court for various health issues, from a hip injury to a viral infection.  Sjogren's (pronounced "show-grins")

Tennis star Venus Williams was in Santa Monica on Thursday, doing fitness demonstrations, leading regular, less-in-shape folks in some exercise and promoting Jamba Juice because she likes to be able to add wheatgrass shots to her juice. Since announcing at the 2011 U.S. Open that she suffered from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects her energy levels and can leave her eyes and mouth exceptionally dry, Williams has taken the lead in learning about nutrition, diet and just about everything else about her body.

Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion, lost in the first round Monday to Elena Vesnina of Russia, 6-1, 6-3. Williams, who is ranked 58th in the world, was able to break Vesnina's serve only once. Vesnina, who is ranked 78th, broke Williams' serve five times. It was Williams' earliest loss since her first Wimbledon appearance 15 years ago. Williams suffers from the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome, which can cause extreme fatigue and joint pain. When asked Monday whether she'll continue to play after the Olympics in London next month, Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, remained optimistic.

Maria Sharapova turned a third-round match against Venus Williams at the Australian Open on Friday into a straight-set rout. The 6-1, 6-3 victory for the lanky Russian ended with an ace at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. “I think when we both looked at the draw, it was a matchup we were both looking forward to,” Sharapova said afterward. “I was a really determined player out there because I knew the tennis that she's capable of producing and playing. She's a tremendous athlete and a great champion.” Sharapova, who won her first two matches of the tournament without dropping a game, will play unseeded Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in the fourth round.

Tennis star Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open, more than four months after announcing that she has Sjogren's syndrome . "After several months of training and treatment, I am making steady progress to top competitive form," the 31-year-old wrote on her website Monday. "My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being able to return to WTA competition. " Williams finished, "I have every intention to return to the circuit in February.

Tennis star Venus Williams was in Santa Monica on Thursday, doing fitness demonstrations, leading regular, less-in-shape folks in some exercise and promoting Jamba Juice because she likes to be able to add wheatgrass shots to her juice. Since announcing at the 2011 U.S. Open that she suffered from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects her energy levels and can leave her eyes and mouth exceptionally dry, Williams has taken the lead in learning about nutrition, diet and just about everything else about her body.

WIMBLEDON -- John Isner stayed in the hunt for a medal for the U.S. tennis team in the Olympics at Wimbledon on Wednesday, but next up is No. 1 Roger Federer. Isner, the only remaining U.S. man in the draw, got into yet another long duel at Wimbledon, winning this time over Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, 7-5, 7-6 (14). His match with Federer will be a quarterfinal. Another U.S. player, Venus Williams, a gold medal winner in three Olympics--twice in women's doubles and once in singles, lost to Germany's Angelique Kerber in two tiebreakers, with an identical 7-5 tiebreaker score in each.

Venus Williams beat younger sister Serena, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (3), Friday to reach the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates. Sixth-seeded Venus dominated the first set as Serena struggled with her serves. "I loved the way the first set went," said Venus, who will face Virginie Razzano of France in today's final. Serena appeared to be bothered by a lingering knee injury that forced her to pull out of last week's semifinals in Paris.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Serena Williams routed Venus Williams, 6-1, 6-2, in the semifinals of the Family Circle Cup on Saturday at Charleston, S.C. It was the most one-sided match in the sisters' rivalry and the 14th straight match that the younger sister has won in the tournament. The top-ranked woman will play for her second straight title in this tournament Sunday against Jelena Jankovic. Jankovic, the 2007 champion, defeated Stefanie Voegele, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2, in the other semifinal.

Serena Williams continued her domination of big sister Venus on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in Charleston, S.C. Serena's whipping of Venus in the semifinals was her fifth victory in a row in the sibling rivalry and her 14th straight match win at the Family Cup. Little sister has only dropped two sets in the winning streak, which gives her a 14-10 career record against Venus. Of course, the two hadn't played since meeting twice in 2009 during the Sony Ericsson Championships, which feature the top players in the world in round-robin play before single-elimination matches.

Taylor Townsend has both confidence and charm. The 16-year-old can smile when she talks about some hubbub caused last year at the U.S. Open when it was publicly suggested the teenager might be too chubby. Since the suggestion was made by the United States Tennis Assn., which offers funding and coaching help to top athletes, the criticism carried more, um, weight. But Townsend has gone on her tennis way, which is to hit big ground strokes and use USTA coaches and trainers to keep making her better.

Maria Sharapova turned a third-round match against Venus Williams at the Australian Open on Friday into a straight-set rout. The 6-1, 6-3 victory for the lanky Russian ended with an ace at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. “I think when we both looked at the draw, it was a matchup we were both looking forward to,” Sharapova said afterward. “I was a really determined player out there because I knew the tennis that she's capable of producing and playing. She's a tremendous athlete and a great champion.” Sharapova, who won her first two matches of the tournament without dropping a game, will play unseeded Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in the fourth round.

Venus Williams was dancing on the court during an exhibition victory in Lagos, Nigeria, over younger sister Serena, who wasn't in nearly as good a mood. The Southern Californian siblings are on a two-nation tour promoting women's rights in Africa, where the elder Williams picked up a 6-4, 7-5 victory on Friday in 91-degree heat on the clay courts of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. “For me to get a win against Serena, it means 2013 is going to be a great year,” said Venus, who at one point took a moment between games to dance to “Oliver Twist” by Nigerian singer D'banj.

TORONTO -- In an about-face, Venus and Serena Williams have chosen not to attend Tuesday's Toronto world premiere of the documentary "Venus and Serena," which they authorized and participated in for the past 20 months, because they are reportedly unhappy with the finished product. As recently as several days ago, the tennis superstars had planned to come to the Toronto International Film Festival to support the movie made by veteran broadcast journalists Maiken Baird and Michelle Major, according to a person familiar with the Williamses' plans who asked not to be identified because the person had not been authorized to speak on their behalf.

Venus Williams successfully defended her Dubai Championships title Saturday, beating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 6-3, 7-5, in the final in the United Arab Emirates. Williams broke Azarenka a third time at 5-5 in the second set and served out for her 42nd singles title on the WTA Tour. Williams didn't lose a set, and in the final she lost her serve once against Azarenka, who is ranked No. 6, one spot behind Williams. Williams served well, hitting seven aces and winning 80% of her first serves.

Venus Williams was dancing on the court during an exhibition victory in Lagos, Nigeria, over younger sister Serena, who wasn't in nearly as good a mood. The Southern Californian siblings are on a two-nation tour promoting women's rights in Africa, where the elder Williams picked up a 6-4, 7-5 victory on Friday in 91-degree heat on the clay courts of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. “For me to get a win against Serena, it means 2013 is going to be a great year,” said Venus, who at one point took a moment between games to dance to “Oliver Twist” by Nigerian singer D'banj.

Late night tennis arrived Thursday at the U.S. Open and it took away Venus Williams. Angelique Kerber, a semifinalist here last year and the No. 6 seed this year, withstood a barrage of volleys from the 32-year-old Williams and took out the former champion 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. Williams had withdrawn from this tournament a year ago before her second round, announcing she had been diagnosed as suffering from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that...

NEW YORK -- Venus Williams, who announced at the U.S. Open a year ago that she suffered from an autoimmune condition known as Sjogren's Syndrome, a disease that can be strength-sapping, is doing what she promised when she made that announcement. Playing tennis still. Williams, 32, a two-time winner of the U.S. Open, advanced to the second round Tuesday with an authoritative thumping of fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 6-3, 6-1. Williams started slowly, losing the first two games of the match, but with many in the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd shouting, "Let's go Venus," Williams picked up her powerful pace.