New Delhi: Still going strong at 44, Venus Williams has been handed a wild-card entry for the BNP Paribas Open as the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion gears up to return to court after nearly a full year next month in Indian Wells, California.
Williams, 44, hasn’t played on tour since a first-round defeat at the Miami Open on March 19, 2024, almost two weeks after losing her opening match at Indian Wells.
Williams, if everything goes according to plan, will play in the 2025 edition thirty years after her first appearance at Indian Wells in 1994. The American legend has won five titles at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open in singles. She also claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her younger sister, Serena.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, returning to action after a 15-month break while giving birth to her first child, is also among the wild-card recipients along with teenagers Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien.
Brazil’s Fonseca, 18, won his first ATP title at the Argentina Open this month. Meanwhile, Tien, 19, reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.
The BNP Paribas Open will played from March 2-16.
Sabalenka crashes out in Dubai, Alcaraz advances in Qatar
In other tennis news, world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock straight-sets loss against 22-year-old Dane Clara Tauson and was ousted in the pre-quarterfinals after a 3-6, 2-6 loss at the Dubai Championships. Former top-ranked player Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Dayana Yastremska. She will next face Mirra Andreeva, who overcame Peyton Sterns 6-1, 6-1. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini was knocked out by Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-0.
In Qatar, top-seed Carlos Alcaraz entered the quarterfinals by beating Luca Nardi 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Meanwhile, second-seeded Alex de Minaur beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal clash against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev.
Russia’s fourth-seed Daniil Medvedev brushed aside Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-1 to set a last-eight clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Venus Williams is set to play in the 2025 edition of the Indian Wells tennis tournament after receiving a wild card. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, remarkably, made her first appearance at Indian Wells in 1994. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
