“..I suddenly felt unwelcome, alone, and afraid,” Serena Williams said while recalling her 2001 Indian Wells final match. She thought it would be her game, where she would once again summon the same magic she had against Steffi Graf in the 1999 Indian Wells final. Instead, controversies plagued the match, leaving an indelible scar on Williams’ psyche. This traumatic experience led to a long-standing boycott of the tournament. Yet, a shift in perspective would eventually bring Williams back. What prompted this change of heart?

In the 6th episode of ESPN’s docuseries ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams,’ we witness the story of one of Williams’ hauntingly difficult times in her tennis career. For context. Williams, the then nineteen-year-old player who had turned pro only about 6 years ago, had to face the boos and jeering of the crowd during her 2001 Indian Wells final match against Kim Clijsters. Even her father, Richard, also had to go through the same humiliating experience, as he later confessed to hearing racist comments in the stands during the clash. The reason was simple. Just before her final game, Serena played against her own sister, Venus, in the semifinals. But sadly, she had to pull out from the match due to her tendinitis problem. This created outrage among fans, who made it clear to Williams that she was unwelcomed in the finals.

Sharing those cold memories of the event and about the moment Williams decided to go back into the event, Williams’ elder sister, Isha Price, said, “I remember her saying I think I am going to go back to Indian Wells. And I said what? Why? And she was like, we are Christian. At some point, you have to forgive and you have to move on. Another time where you learn something from your little sister…And I said, if this is what you want to do, I will be there hands down to support you.”

Echoing the same sentiment, the 23 Grand Slam champion added, “I was not going to go back if my family did not agree with me or did not want me to go back. So I had to talk to everyone separately and to see how they felt. Everyone else was on board. I remember talking finally and lastly to my dad.” She further added how her father was willing to support her but was not ready “physically to go back there.” 

The boos was just the half of the story. The false allegations regarding their matches to be “fixed,” further made it more miserable to bear for the Williams family. “Throughout my whole career, integrity has been everything to me. It is also everything and more to Venus. The false allegations that our matches were fixed hurt, cut and ripped into us deeply. The undercurrent of racism was painful, confusing and unfair,” she said later on.

Along with her sister, Venus, Williams boycotted the event for 14 long years until, in 2015, she made a much-awaited comeback. It was her Jehovah’s Witness faith which made her see the reason to believe in forgiveness and come back. The 42-year-old American once stated how she was “raised,” by her mother to “love and forgive freely.” However, even after all the darkness that preceded it, Williams’ Indian Wells tournament did not prove to be a smooth journey!

Here’s why Williams had to withdraw from the 2015 Indian Wells semifinals

After years of avoiding playing in Indian Wells, Williams finally came to the event, with the hope, “fans at Indian Wells have grown with the game and know me better than they did in 2001.” The tournament indeed welcomed her with open arms and Williams showed her brilliance once again by qualifying to the semifinals of the event. And then fate intervened the same way as it did in 2001.

While during that year it was Venus who had to withdraw owing to her knee injury, almost 14 years later, Williams also faced the same destiny. Before playing against Simona Halep, the eventual champion of the tournament, Williams made a disheartening announcement.

“Four months ago I began a journey to play Indian Wells and it was amazing. I never dreamed I could do it. But I would not have been able to do this without my fans. Though it ended early due to injury this year, I have to say I cannot wait to try again next year. Thanks everyone. I love you so much!”

However, by returning to Indian Wells, Williams triumphed over adversity, silencing critics and inspiring fans worldwide. Her courageous stance serves as a testament to the transformative impact of forgiveness and self-reflection!