Venus Williams gets wild card to return to Indian Wells in singles, doubles
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Venus Williams will receive a wild card into the singles and doubles draws for next month’s BNP Paribas Open in the Southern California desert.
The 45-year-old will be competing in the tournament for the first time since 2024, when she lost in the first round as a wild card. She has reached the semifinals three times, most recently in 2018. After a controversial incident in 2001, she boycotted the event from 2002 to 2016.
“It is an honor to award the first wild card to this year’s event to Venus Williams,” tournament director Tommy Haas said Friday. “Venus is a legend of the sport and one of the most accomplished players the sport has ever produced.”
This will be Williams’ tenth career appearance in the tournament, which takes place from March 4-15. A year ago, she was offered a wild card, but she didn’t take it.
“I’m excited to be back in Indian Wells and can’t wait to get back to California to play,” Williams said.
She recently competed in the Australian Open, where she lost in the first round of singles and doubles.
Williams plans to compete in the ATX Open, a WTA 250 event in Austin, Texas, which begins Saturday and runs through March 1.
