Former world number one Venus Williams has confirmed she will not compete at next month’s Indian Wells tournament, despite being offered a wild card entry to the WTA 1000 event.
Speaking at an event in Denmark, the 44-year-old American revealed she was unaware of the wild card offer before it was publicly announced on Wednesday. However, she stated that prior commitments would prevent her from participating.
“I found the announcement super amusing because people seemed happy, so I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just go with it, I don’t know,’” Williams said in Naestved. “I’m actually not going. I’m going to be overseas.”
Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas later confirmed her withdrawal in a statement.
“Our team has been informed that Venus is not accepting the wild card this year,” the statement read. “We wish Venus all the best and hope to see her back in Indian Wells in the future.”
Williams previously boycotted the event for 15 years after her sister Serena was booed and heckled during the 2001 final following Venus’ late withdrawal from their semi-final due to injury.
Despite her absence this year, Williams expressed fondness for the tournament.
“I love Indian Wells, I would love to be there, and if I could have accepted it, I would have been like, ‘Yes,’ but I already made commitments,” she said.
