Venus Williams Won't Play in 2025 Indian Wells Despite Receiving Wild-Card Entry

Despite receiving a wild-card entry to Indian Wells, Venus Williams will not participate in the tournament.

At "An Evening with Venus Williams" at Arena Næstved, Williams said a press release from the tournament about her wild-card entry "wasn't true."

"No, I'm not playing," she said (h/t ESPN's D'Arcy Maine). "Actually, I found the announcement super amusing because, I don't know, people seem to be happy, so I was like, 'Maybe I'll just go with it, I don't know.' I'm actually not going. I'm going to be overseas. I'm not going to be [there] ... I just had a player text me today too, like, 'Can you play doubles?' [But] I'm not playing."

Williams said she found out about the wild-card bid "when you guys did" and said she "would love to be there" but had prior commitments.

Last week, the tournament released a statement announcing the 44-year-old would participate in Indian Wells, which would have been her first WTA Tour-level match in nearly a year.

“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 was given a wild-card bid and competed at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March last year, losing to Nao Hibino of Japan in three sets. She also received a wild card to the Miami Open later in March and lost to Diana Shnaider. She has not competed since.

Last year, Williams competed only in Indian Wells and the Miami Open. In 2023, she participated in seven tournaments and won three matches. Given her sparse appearances, it's unclear when she plans to compete professionally again.