Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams is expected to make her tennis return at this year’s Indian Wells.
According to the official announcement, Williams received a wild-card initiation and will be part of the main draw for the 2025 edition of the tournament, which is now known as the BNP Paribas Open. Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova also received a wild-card entry in women’s singles.
Williams last competed at the Miami Open in March of last year, being eliminated in the first round after losing in straight sets to Diana Shnaider. She hasn’t played an official match since then, sparking rumors about her potential retirement.
Williams has nine Indian Wells appearances in her storied career, reaching the semi-finals on three occasions. Her last appearance came in 2024 and ended with a first-round loss against Nao Hibino.
Williams boycotted the tournament from 2002 to 2015 after an incident in 2001. She was forced to withdraw from the semi-final match against her sister Serena due to a knee injury and ended up being heavily booed by the crowd while attending the finals.
Making her debut in 1994, Venus Williams won five Wimbledon titles and two US Open titles throughout her career. She made nine more Grand Slam finals appearances, the last of which came in 2017 at the Australian Open.
