Venus Williams out of more tourneys

BEIJING, April 11 -- Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will miss another tournament next week in Charleston, South Carolina, as she undergoes tests for a medical issue that her agent said on Wednesday wasn't serious.

The six-time major champion and former No. 1 plans to return to the WTA Tour at next month's Italian Open, then participate in the year's remaining grand slams.

"This is not a hiatus. This is not a break from the tour," her agent, Carlos Fleming, said in a telephone interview. "This was a limited window where she could get these evaluations before the three major tournaments and Olympics this summer."

Venus, currently ranked No. 6, was already sitting out of this week's tournament at Amelia Island and she withdrew from Charleston on Wednesday. She did not cite an injury in pulling out of those events, and is making off-court appearances at both.

Venus played last week at Key Biscayne, Florida, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets.