Venus Williams has been given a wildcard entry for the BNP Paribas Open, which would make next month’s tournament in Indian Wells her first event in nearly a year.
The 44-year-old hasn’t competed anywhere on tour since a first-round loss at the Miami Open on 19 March 2024. That was less than two weeks after she lost her opening match at Indian Wells.
The seven-time grand slam singles champion’s first appearance at Indian Wells came in 1994. Williams won five titles at Wimbledon and two at the US Open in singles, along with 14 grand slam doubles titles with her sister Serena.
The Williams sisters had a complicated history with Indian Wells. They boycotted the tournament for a number of years after they were subjected to racist taunts by some members of the crowd during the final of the 2001 tournament. Serena returned to the tournament in 2015 and Venus followed her in 2016. Venus is currently ranked No 974 after her long break from the tour. Her last singles title came at the Taiwan Open in February 2016.
Other wildcard recipients announced Wednesday include two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova – who is returning to action after a 15-month break while giving birth to her first child – and teenagers João Fonseca and Learner Tien.
Fonseca, 18, won his first ATP title at the Argentina Open this month. Tien, 19, reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.
The tournament runs from 2-16 March.
