Venus Williams has been awarded a wild card to play in subsequent month’s BNP Paribas Open, which might mark her first match play in a yr.
The Indian Wells, California, match introduced Wednesday that Williams, a former world No. 1 and seven-time main singles champion, had been given a spot in the principle draw, with first-round play starting March 5.
Williams, 44, has not performed in a tour occasion for the reason that Miami Open in March 2024. Since that look, through which she misplaced in straight units within the first spherical, her future within the sport had been unsure and there had been hypothesis she had retired.
Nevertheless, Williams has continued to put up occasional video clips and images to her social media of her coaching, most not too long ago on Tuesday.
A Southern California native, Williams — who turned skilled in 1994 and has gained 49 singles titles, 23 mixed main trophies and 5 Olympic medals — has an advanced historical past on the match. She and sister Serena boycotted the occasion for 14 years after experiencing racial taunts and boos throughout Serena’s 2001 closing in opposition to Kim Clijsters. Serena mentioned in 2021 that she was nonetheless traumatized by the ordeal.
Serena, who retired from tennis in 2022, made her return on the occasion in 2015, and Williams adopted swimsuit in 2016. This can mark Williams’ tenth look, and he or she has reached the semifinals on three events. She final competed at Indian Wells in 2024, having additionally acquired a wild card and shedding within the first spherical.
Williams, who has essentially the most main singles titles amongst energetic ladies on tour, has competed sparingly over the previous a number of seasons. She competed in simply two occasions in 2024 and gained three matches in seven tournaments in 2023. As a result of her lack of exercise, she is ranked No. 974 on this planet.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who is anticipated to make her return after maternity go away later this month, was additionally given a wild card.
Rising teenage stars Joao Fonseca, who gained his first ATP title on the Argentina Open final week, and Learner Tien, the American 19-year-old who reached the fourth spherical on the Australian Open in January, have been awarded wild playing cards for the lads’s draw.