On Wednesday, Indian Wells tournament organizers unveiled their first batch of main-draw wild cards. The inclusion of 44-year-old Venus Williams caught many by surprise. The plot thickened by Sunday, however, when an unexpected twist emerged.
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The veteran swiftly debunked rumors of an imminent return to the professional circuit, effectively turning down the wild-card invitation. Venus, who has notcompeted since March of last year, expressed astonishment upon learning she hadbeen slated for a comeback inIndian Wells.
During an appearance in Denmark, the seven-time Majorchampion set the record straight. Shefirmly statedthat the reports were "not true" and confirmedshe had not accepted any offers to play!
This suggests Venuswas 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.
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!
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That year, Williamswas set to face her younger sister, Serena, in the semi-finalbut withdrew due to a knee injury.The decision drew ire from the crowd, who booedSerena during her title clash against Kim Clijsters.
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 herillustrious career.
"I'm not playing in Indian Wells. I found out about the wild card when you guys did. I love that tournament,and I would love to be there. If I could have accepted the invitation, I would have been like, yes. But I already made commitments," Venus Williams said.
