Former world number one Venus Williams will not compete at next month’s Indian Wells tournament even with the WTA 1000 event giving the 44-year-old American a wild card.
Williams, who played in two tournaments last season, stated at a Denmark event that she learned about the wildcard only when it was announced on Wednesday.
She added that she was unable to compete due to prior commitments.
“I found the announcement super amusing because I don’t know, people seem to be happy, so I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just go with it, I don’t know’,” Williams said at the event in the city of Naestved, Denmark.
“I’m not going. I am going to be overseas.”
Tournament director Tommy Haas released a statement confirming that Williams would not participate in the March 2 to 16 events in Southern California.
“Our team has been informed that Venus is not accepting the wild card this year,” it read.
“We wish Venus all the best and hope to see her back in Indian Wells in the future.”
Williams boycotted the event for 15 years after fans booed and heckled her younger sister Serena during her 2001 final victory over Kim Clijsters.
This was in response to Venus withdrawing injured from their semi-final.
“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,” Williams added.
NAN
