Venus Williams, the former world number one and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, has clarified that she will not be participating in the upcoming Indian Wells tournament despite being granted a wild card by the WTA 1000 event. The 44-year-old tennis star announced her decision at a speaking event in Naestved, Denmark, where she humorously commented on the announcement made without her prior knowledge.
Williams explained that she had already made commitments that precluded her participation in the tournament, stating, “”I’m not playing. I found out about the wild card when you guys did. Just saying. I love Indian Wells, I would love to be there and if I could have accepted it, I would have been like, yes. But I already made commitments…””.
The tournament director, Tommy Haas, confirmed Williams’ absence. This announcement came as a surprise to many tennis fans who were excited about Williams’ potential return to the event. Williams has a history with Indian Wells, having boycotted the event for 15 years following an incident involving her sister Serena in 2001.
This was the statement from Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas: “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.”
Despite the disappointment of not seeing Williams compete at Indian Wells, she remains committed to her training and staying in shape for future tournaments. Williams’ lighthearted reaction to the wild card announcement and her dedication to the sport continue to endear her to fans worldwide.
