In 2001, 7-time GS winner Venus Williams walked away from an Indian Wells semifinal, igniting a huge uproar among the fraternity. Boos filled the air, accusations swirled, and when Venus’s sister Serena Williams played the finals against Kim Clijsters, the hostility turned quite bitter. It impacted the whole family – and the Williams sisters didn’t return, at will, for 14 years. Things settled slowly, and Venus turned up finally in 2016, choosing to leave her past behind. Now, years later, Indian Wells once again awaited her presence. But this time, Venus had a firm response that closed the chapter again.

Williams played her last match in the 2024 Miami Open, losing to Diana Shnaider 6-3 and 6-3 in R128. She attended the Indian Wells that year but lost to Nao Hibino in the opening round, 6-2, 3-6, and 0-6. This 44-year-old WTA star last won a match in the 2023 Cincinnati Open first round, dominating Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 and 7-5. After that, her performance started to decline, following her knee injury, which sidelined her from tournaments after the 2023 US Open. To rewind further: she had slipped during her 2023 Wimbledon first-round loss against Elina Svitolina and was “pretty injured.” 

After offering her “knee a chance to heal,” Venus Williams returned in March 2024 and played only two tournaments. Her knee tendinitis became a clear obstruction in her career, followed by her Sjogren’s disorder flare up, which impacted her physicality and form. But despite the odds, Venus remained a warrior.

Williams didn’t ‘officially’ retire like her sister, which leaves her followers hopeful about her comeback till date. So, when last Wednesday the BNP Paribas Committee announced the Olympic gold-medalist legend’s 10th appearance in the event through a wildcard entry, the fraternity was over the moon. However, the happiness soon turned into disappointment, when the tournament director Tommy Haas released a statement, “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.”

The announcement was made shortly after Venus Williams confirmed not attending the BNP Paribas Open in the Tennis Weekly podcast. “I’m not playing, I’m going to be overseas. I’m not gonna be here,” she revealed. Her message disappointed the fraternity, who eagerly wished her to return to the court where she debuted in 1994.

Adding to her earlier statement, this 7-time GS champion revealed the reason for her absence in the Tennis Weekly podcast, “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 … and I love Indian Wells. I would love to be there, so if I could have accepted it, I would have been like, ‘Yes.’ But I already made commitments.”

Venus Williams‘ decision came as a heartbreak, especially when she accepted her fondness for the event – a dramatic contrast to the circumstances that once kept her away for nearly a decade and half.

When Venus Williams boycotted the Indian Wells for 14 years

The former WTA No. 1 once shared a troubled history with the BNP Paribas Open tournament. It all started when Venus withdrew from the 2001 Indian Wells due to knee tendonitis. Her decision caught everyone off-guard, as it came abruptly ahead of Williams’ semifinal clash against her sister. However, tennis enthusiasts were unaware of the real cause and assumed it was a strategic play by Williams’ coach and father Richard Williams.

So, when Williams’ sister Serena played her finals against Kim Clijsters in the same tournament, she was ill-received by the crowd. The star, who would go on to win 23 GS titles – was constantly booed and heckled by the attendees. Their father, Richard Williams accused the spectators of slinging racial abuse at them. This situation angered the sisters and propelled them to boycott the tournament for over a decade. However, things settled down eventually and Serena returned to the event in 2015, with her elder sister joining her the following year.

Reflecting on her return, Raymond Moore, Indian Wells Tennis Garden Chief executive said then, “We are thrilled Venus Williams, one of the greatest women’s players in the history of the game, is returning, Our fans embraced Serena last year and we expect nothing less for Venus.” Venus Williams’ absence from the Indian Wells will surely disappoint the fraternity. However, tennis, like fate is ever-changing! Do you think the legend will make her come back soon or eventually walk toward retirement?