LOS ANGELES, California — Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, 45, has accepted a wild card to play the prestigious Indian Wells WTA hard court tournament in March, organizers said Friday (Saturday in Manila).
Tommy Haas, director of the combined ATP and WTA event, called it an “honor” to offer the first wild card invitation of 2026 to the United States tennis icon, who received entry to both singles and doubles, and is scheduled to appear in the California desert for the first time since 2024.
“I’m so excited to be heading back to Indian Wells and can’t wait to return home to play in California,” Williams said in a statement.
“I’m grateful to the tournament for having me back and giving me the opportunity to compete in both singles and doubles.”
In January, Williams made history as the oldest woman ever to play at the Australian Open, accepting a wild card invitation and pushing 24-year-old Serbian Olga Danilovic all the way before falling in three sets in the first round.
Williams has played only sporadically in recent years. She returned from a 16-month hiatus at the DC Open last July.
In Doha, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz needed six match points before finally toppling defending champion Andrey Rublev, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, on Friday to reach the final of the Qatar Open.
Playing his first tournament since completing his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier in February, Alcaraz will face Arthur Fils in the final.
The 21-year-old Frenchman was a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) winner over sixth seed Jakub Mensik, who defeated Jannik Sinner in the last eight.