Former world number one Venus Williams has turned down the wildcard handed to her for next month’s Indian Wells, Afrosport reports.
Williams was offered a wildcard to return to Indian Wells, but the four-time Olympic champion has reportedly turned down the offer, the organisers revealed.
“Our team has been informed that Venus is not accepting the wildcard this year,” a message from tournament director Tommy Haas read as revealed in a post on X.
“We wish Venus all the best and hope to see her back in Indian Wells in the future.”
The 44-year-old speaking at a conference in Copenhagen, Demark, on Sunday had initially announced her decision to turn down the wildcard.
“No, I’m not playing… I’m actually not going, I’m going to be overseas. I’m not going to be here. So I’m watching it on TV,” Venus Williams told Tennis Weekly Podcast
“I found out about the wildcard when you guys did. I love Indian Wells and I would love to be there. If I could have accepted it, I would have been like ‘yes’, but I already have other commitments.”
Williams, ranked 974th in the world, has not played competitive tennis in almost a year. She has yet to feature in a WTA Tour-level match since a first-round defeat to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open last March.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has also failed to secure a tour-level win since August 2023.
She was supposed to make her 10th appearance at Indian Wells, having boycotted the tournament for 15 years after fans booed her younger sister Serena Williams in the final in 2001.
The Indian Wells Open is set to take place in California from 2-16 March.
