Tennis legend Venus Williams has set the record straight after reports surfaced that she had accepted a wildcard to compete at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Despite an official announcement from tournament organizers, Williams has made it clear that she never agreed to play in the prestigious WTA 1000 event.
Speaking at a recent event in Denmark, the 44-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion was asked about her supposed return to Indian Wells. Her response left no room for doubt:
“Actually, I’m not. That wasn’t true. That wasn’t true. No, I’m not playing.” Williams admitted she was amused by the widespread reports, saying, “I found the announcement super amusing because, I don’t know, people seemed to be happy, so I was like, maybe I’ll just go with it. I don’t know. I’m actually not going.”
The tennis icon further explained that she had already made other commitments overseas and would be watching the tournament from afar. She also shared a lighthearted anecdote about how even fellow players were misled by the announcement:
“I just had a player text me today too, like, ‘Can you play doubles?’ I’m not playing. I found out about the wild card when you guys did. Just saying.”
Despite not participating in Indian Wells this year, Williams reassured fans that she is still actively training and staying in shape for future tournaments.
“And 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,” she added.
The BNP Paribas Open, scheduled for March 2-16, 2025, is one of the most highly anticipated events on the tennis calendar, drawing the world’s top players to the Coachella Valley for what is often referred to as “tennis paradise.”
Although Williams’ absence from Indian Wells may be disappointing for fans, her continued commitment to the sport leaves the door open for future appearances on the WTA Tour.
