Venus Williams Gets Wild Card Entry to Indian Wells; Marks 1st Event Since March 2024
For the first time in almost a year, Venus Williams will compete in a WTA Tour-level match.
Williams, 44, was granted a wild-card entry into the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California next month, per The Athletic's Matthew Futterman.
It will be Williams' 10th appearance at Indian Wells. She has reached the event's semifinal three times but has never won.
“Williams, a Southern California native, has competed on the WTA Tour for more than 30 years since her debut in 1994,” the tournament said in a statement on Wednesday. “Williams is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles and has won a combined 23 Grand Slams across all competitions, including seven in singles, while also winning four Olympic Gold Medals and the 2008 WTA Tour Championships. The 2025 BNP Paribas Open will mark Williams’ tenth career appearance at Indian Wells.”
Williams and her sister, Serena, did not compete at Indian Wells for 14 years following an incident at the event in 2001. The Williams sisters were set to compete against each other in the semifinals in 2001 when Venus had to withdraw because of a knee injury.
After withdrawing, Venus and her father, Richard, were met with boos from the crowd while watching Serena play in the finals.
Serena opened up about the incident in an interview with Will Smith for Red Table Talk in 2021.
"Even when I went back 14 years later, it was very traumatizing," she said (h/t ESPN's D'Arcy Maine). "Talk about post-traumatic stress and mental anxiety. I remember sitting in the bathroom thinking, 'Wait, I'm not gonna go back. I just don't think I should do this. What if they start booing again?' It was really hard for me."
Venus competed at Indian Wells last year after receiving a wild-card bid and lost to Nao Hibino of Japan in three sets. She also received a wild card to the Miami Open, where she lost in straight sets to Diana Shnaider. The Miami Open was Williams' last event.
