Venus Williams on hiatus in women's tennis

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- U.S. star Venus Williams has taken a leave of absence from the women's tennis tour.

She did not give a reason for the hiatus.

"I've just been having some issues that I need to resolve, so I'm working on that at the moment and I'm hoping to be back playing as soon as possible," she was quoted as saying Tuesday on the Play Tennis Florida Web site at this week's Bausch and Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, Fla.

The former world No. 1 has withdrawn from the event.

"I'm not going to get any further into it, but of course I love the sport."

The Web site also said that she showed up at the event to perform media obligations and sign autographs.

Other reports said that she made a trip to downtown Jacksonville to see a doctor, but those reports were not confirmed on Wednesday.

She added that she wants to try to play in the French Open in Paris in late May.