Fans of Venus Williams are buzzing with anticipation to see the American back in action! It’s been a whole year since the 44-year-old last played a professional match at the Miami Open in March 2024. Despite speculation about her retirement, she reassured everyone that she was “not done yet.” However, with her long hiatus and no news of her practicing, hope seemed dim—until Indian Wells announced she would receive a wildcard entry for this year’s BNP Paribas Open. Could this be the moment we’ve all been waiting for?

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Williams accepted the wildcard for the Indian Wells Masters! With her ranking at 974, she wouldn’t have qualified for the main draw otherwise, making this wildcard a potential game-changer. Fans are excited about her possible return after her knee injury at the 2023 Wimbledon, where she faced Elina Svitolina in the first round. This would mark her 10th appearance at Indian Wells!

But just as excitement was building, new information has thrown a wrench in the celebrations. According to a tweet from the Tennis Weekly Podcast on X, Venus Williams spoke in Denmark and confirmed that the news about her wildcard entry is “not true.” She is currently overseas and will not be playing. While we await clarity on this situation, it’s disheartening for fans eagerly anticipating her return.

Especially since Venus has been open about her commitment to staying active and training despite her injuries. Just before the wildcard announcement, she posted a workout picture on Instagram with the caption, “Lavender afternoons💜,” hinting that she might still be gearing up for a comeback. However, it’s not as easy as that.

She’s also got quite a history with the Indian Wells tournament that dates back to 2001, and it’s a story filled with drama. That year, Venus was forced to withdraw from her semifinal match due to a knee injury, but things took a turn when she was spotted in the stands watching Serena play Kim Clijsters in the final. The crowd erupted in boos, and Richard Williams, their father, faced racial abuse during the match. Despite Serena winning the title, the atmosphere was tense and hostile, leaving both sisters shaken. After this incident, they boycotted the event for 14 years. While Serena made her return in 2015, Venus followed suit in 2016.

While we’re left wondering if she’ll officially address her participation at Indian Wells, one thing is clear: fans would love to see her play again. And let’s not forget, her younger sister supposedly told her she’s not allowed to retire!

Venus is not allowed to retire according to Serena!

In January 2024, Venus Williams shared a heartfelt statement, saying, “My little sister, Serena, told me I’m not allowed to quit, and of course, I would never quit. But it’s the mandate. She said no, so I will be back on the court.” However, things took a turn in October when she opened up about how Serena Williams‘ retirement in September 2022 initially threw her into troubled waters.

Venus has often expressed how she can’t imagine life without her sister, so when Serena stepped away from the sport, many speculated that Venus might follow suit. She humorously noted, “Serena ruined it for me because as soon as she retired, everybody thought I retired. And sometimes I even think we’re twins. So if you guys did think so we are, we are two separate people born on different days.”

Despite the challenges, Venus has come to terms with her future in tennis. She reflected on her retirement thoughts, saying she once believed she would cry when that time came but now realizes, “I won’t cry because I’ve definitely given everything to this sport.” Yet, with recent news about her possible absence from the Indian Wells tournament despite receiving a wildcard, fans are left feeling heartbroken. It would have been such a thrill to see her back on the court—don’t you agree?