Venus Williams returns to Indian Wells after receiving a wild card

Venus Williams has revealed she can't wait after securing the Indian Wells wild card

Venus Williams Confirmed to Return to Indian Wells Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is set to play in the desert for the first time since 2019.

Williams last played in a tournament at the 2022 US Open, where she suffered a heartbreaking first-round loss to qualifier Grete Minnen.

The American struggled with injuries throughout the season, which allowed him to play a total of 10 matches, winning only three.

A knee injury curtailed Williams' 2023 season, but now the former No.1 looks set to return to what is being dubbed the 'fifth Grand Slam'.

The current world No.480 Indian received a wild card for Wells this year, making her first WTA 1000 appearance in five years, to which she responded on social media, saying, “Can't wait to come back #tennisparadise.”

Can't wait to come back #tennisparadise ???????????? https://t.co/O7bpNh67Yh

— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) February 13, 2024

Williams has never won a singles or doubles title in California, but the 43-year-old has reached the semifinals three times in singles and one in doubles.

Williams was not the only one to receive a wild card, fellow former No.1 and 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki was also given direct entry into the event.

Indian Wells will see double the sunshine on Sunday, March 3, ending two weeks later on March 17.

Inside the basement…

Williams' sisters and Indian Wells have had a strong relationship with the Indian Wells tournament over the years, boycotting the event between 2001 and 2015 after receiving racism from the crowd. So, the relationship with these wild card tournaments shows a healing over time, and a change in attitude towards one of the greatest athletes in history. Venus Williams is very affected injury the past few years, so it would be nice to have as pain-free a season as possible in the twilight of her career.

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