Venus Williams breaks silence on tennis comeback after Indian Wells wild card controversy

Indian Wells previously announced that Venus Williams has accepted the wild card to feature in the WTA 1000 tournament.

Venus Williams breaks silence on tennis comeback after Indian Wells wild card controversy

Venus Williams (Image via WTA/X)

Venus Williams never intended to play this year’s Indian Wells, but despite that, she was offered the wild card. Williams, during an event, brushed off the rumors and said she has made other commitments.

Williams has not yet officially retired and was last seen in action at the Miami Open last year but fell to Diana Shnaider in the first round. She had also participated at the Indian Wells and there too, the result was the same, a first-round exit after a three-set defeat to Nao Hibino.

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The Indian Wells this season, is scheduled to start on March 2. Ahead of the tournament, rumors started spreading that the 44-year-old had accepted a wild card and this created a bit of a stir, for her fans wanted to see her play again.

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Actually, I’m not. That wasn’t true. No, I’m not playing. 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 gonna be like, in overseas. I’m not gonna be here so I’m watching it on TV. I’m sorry guys.

Venus Williams said during an event in Denmark (via Tennis Weekly Podcast)

Because of the rumor, Williams received a text from a player, asking her to play doubles. Williams admitted that if she had not made any prior commitment, she would have contemplated playing in the WTA 1000 event.

Indian Wells confirmed Venus Williams didn’t accept the wild card

After Venus Williams publicly announced that she wouldn’t be making a trip to the California desert, tournament director Tommy Haas wasted no time in addressing the controversy. He confirmed that Williams didn’t accept the wild card.

Venus Williams
Venus Williams (Image via WTA/X)

Our team has been informed that Venus is not accepting the wild card this year. We wish Venus all the best and hope to see her back in Indian Wells in the future.

Tommy Haas stated

Although Williams has denied playing at Indian Wells, she confirmed during the event in Denmark that she has been training and staying in shape for the next tournament she intends to play. A few days ago, the American also took to X to post a picture of herself training in a lavender outfit.

The former World No.1, who has now dropped to No.975 due to her tennis inactivity, had boycotted Indian Wells for 15 years due to the racist abuse she and sister Serena Williams heard from fans. She didn’t play in the tournament from 2002 to 2016. Williams has never won the Indian Wells though she reached the semifinals three times.