Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, the two reigning Grand Slam champions, have been given wildcards to compete in the Indian Wells tournament.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams hasn’t competed since being eliminated early from the US Open the previous year after a humiliating loss to qualifier Greet Minnen in the opening round. The 43-year-old American will make her Indian Wells debut after not making it past the quarterfinals in 2019.
Following the births of her two children, Wozniacki had a three-year absence before returning to competition last year. She advanced to the US Open’s fourth round, losing to eventual winner Coco Gauff, and last month she advanced to the Australian Open’s second round.
An icon returns ✨@venuswilliams receives a wildcard to compete in #TennisParadise for the first time since 2019! pic.twitter.com/sr1KvA1hOW
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 13, 2024
A welcome return to the desert 🏜
2011 champion @carowozniacki accepts a wildcard to play in #TennisParadise this year! pic.twitter.com/7GH7xYLnQQ
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 13, 2024
Venus Williams in 2024
Ranked world no.480, Venus Williams played her last match on the 29th of August 2023 when she capitulated to world no.85 Greetje Minnen 6-1 6-1 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
Presently, during this year the American achieved an overall 3-7 win-loss record.
Caroline Wozniacki in 2024
Now the world no.204, Caroline played her last match on the 17th of January when she was overcome by world no.102 Maria Timofeeva 1-6 6-4 6-1 in the 2nd round of the Australian Open (draw).
This year Wozniacki has a 1-2 match record.
Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki squared off 8 times. Their current record is 7-1 for Williams. Before, the last time they locked horns, Caroline Wozniacki won 6-4 6-4 in the final in Singapore (WTA Finals) in October 2017.