Venus Williams receives a wild card for BNP Paribas Open

Venus Williams She won a wild card for playing next month BNP Paribas Open, which would mark her first tournament match per year.

Indian Wells in California announced on Wednesday that Williams, former World Champion no. 1 and seven -time singles champion, he was given a place in the main draw, while playing the first round from March 5.

The 44 -year -old Williams, from Miami Open in March 2024, did not play on tour. pensioner.

However, Williams continued to publish occasional video clips and photos on her social media about her training, Last time on Tuesday.

A native of southern California, Williams, who became a professional in 1994 and won 49 singles, 23 combined main trophies and five Olympic medals – has a complicated history in the tournament. She and sister Serena boycotted this event 14 years after they experienced racial mockery and boos during the Serena finals 2001 against Kim Clijsters. Serena said in 2021 that she was still traumatizing her suffering.

Serena, who left tennis in 2022, returned to the event in 2015 and Williams followed the show in 2016. This will be Mark 10. She last competed in Indian Wells in 2024, when she also received a wild card in the first round and lost.

Williams, who has the most important titles of singles among active women on tour, competed moderately in the last few seasons. In 2024 she competed at only two events and won three matches in seven tournaments in 2023. Due to its lack of activity, there are 974 in the world.

Double master Wimbledon Petra KvitovIt is expected to return to her after maternity leave at the end of this month, he also got a wild card.

Rising teenage stars Joao Fonsecawho won his first ATP title last week on Argentina Open, and StudentThe American 19-year-old, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in January, won wild cards for men.