On Wednesday, Indian Wells event organizers unveiled their first batch of main-draw wild playing cards. The inclusion of 44-year-old Venus Williams caught many without warning. The plot thickened by Sunday, nonetheless, when an surprising twist emerged.
The veteran swiftly debunked rumors of an imminent return to the skilled circuit, successfully turning down the wild-card invitation. Venus, who has not competed since March of final 12 months, expressed astonishment upon studying she had been slated for a comeback in Indian Wells.
Throughout an look in Denmark, the seven-time Main champion set the document straight. She firmly acknowledged that the stories have been “not true” and confirmed she had not accepted any affords to play!
Venus Williams confirms she didn’t settle for the wild card to play Indian Wells:”I’m not playing. I found out about the wild card when you guys did. Just saying. I love Indian Wells, I would love to be there and if I could have accepted it, I would have been like, yes. But I… pic.twitter.com/y3CXDUKquL
— Tennis Weekly Podcast (@tennisweeklypod) February 23, 2025
This suggests Venus was blindsided by the wild-card announcement. Tournament organizers later acknowledged her refusal, updating fans on the development. For the American star, Indian Wells carries a layered and complicated history.
Venus Williams, Indian Wells 2024© Stream screenshot
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She first graced the event as a qualifier in 1996, advancing to the quarter-finals and semi-finals in subsequent years. Her relationship with the tournament took a dramatic turn in 2001, sparking a 15-year boycott!
That year, Williams was set to face her younger sister, Serena, in the semi-final but withdrew due to a knee injury. The decision drew ire from the crowd, who booed Serena during her title clash against Kim Clijsters.Â
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Their father, Richard, later claimed the heckling included racial abuse. Venus stayed away from the desert tournament until 2016, when she made her long-awaited return. She rebounded in 2017, reaching the quarter-final, and continued to impress with deep runs in 2018 and 2019.
After a five-year break, the veteran entered the Indian Wells draw a year ago and fell to Nao Hibino in three sets. For now, Venus’ fans are left wondering whether the tennis icon will grace the court again anytime soon and extend her illustrious career.
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“I am not taking part in in Indian Wells. I discovered in regards to the wild card whenever you guys did. I like that event, and I’d like to be there. If I might have accepted the invitation, I’d have been like, sure. However I already made commitments,” Venus Williams mentioned.
