From Lime Life: As a former No.1 ranked tennis star, entrepreneur, and fashion mogul, Venus Williams is a force to be reckoned with. But, it’s Williams’ latest challenge — Sjogren’s syndrome — that’s her toughest yet.

In August, Williams pulled out of the second-round match at the U.S. Open and announced that she had been recently diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease which causes antibodies to attack the body’s moisture-producing glands, leading to dryness. It can cause fatigue, as well as dry eyes and mouth, though it can also affect people in a variety of other ways. It’s difficult to treat and can often lead to confusion.

Speaking to People magazine about her illness, she says, “I couldn’t raise my arm over my head, the racket felt like concrete. I had no feeling in my hands. They were swollen and itchy. I realized it would be a miserable show.”

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