Open officials insist Venus will front up for Grand Slam

Dec 23, 2011, 8:48 GMT

Melbourne - Australian Open officials Friday were putting a positive spin on the current health status of Venus Williams, saying that despite pulling out of her scheduled first event of 2012, the American will front up for the Grand Slam starting in little more than three weeks.

'I wanted to touch base but there's no change for her. She's coming,' optimistic tournament boss Craig Tiley told The Australian newspaper.

Earlier this week, the 31-year-old who is suffering with a chronic illness which results in joint pain, withdrew from a WTA tuneup event in Auckland which will begin the season on January 2.

The move took organisers there by surprise after the American had professed herself fit and said she planned to play a full 2012 schedule.

Williams, ranked 104, last competed at the US Open but withdrew ill after playing just one match. She featured in the 2003 Australian final but has not been past the quarter-finals since then.

Williams played only 11 matches last season and has not won a title in nearly two years.

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