“What a Waste” – Venus Williams’ Highly Anticipated Tennis Comeback Announcement Leaves Fans Frustrated
Venus Williams, 44, hasn’t played a professional match for a year since Miami Open in March 2024. However, the 7-time Major queen shocked the tennis community on Wednesday with a huge update on her comeback. And that, too, with a WTA event she previously refused to compete at, 15 years ago. Often dubbed as the “fifth Slam,” due to the massive attendance of fans, the Indian Wells Masters will act as the launch pad for Williams to give her career a new flight. But guess what? There appears to be a lack of hype among tennis lovers ahead of her on-court return this season. The question is – why are fans not happy over their favorite star’s comeback?
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Williams has accepted a wildcard for her participation at the Indian Wells Masters. Due to an extended time away from tennis, her ranking – 974 as of now – isn’t impressive enough to get her a direct entry in the main draw of the event. At the 2023 Wimbledon, she sustained a knee injury in the first round against Elina Svitolina. Since then, she’s been in a recovery period. With a wildcard, she will now make her 10th overall appearance in Indian Wells.
Speaking of her record at the event, Williams has managed to make impressive runs here. On three occasions (1998, 2001, and 2018) she succeeded in reaching the semis. Before the confirmation of her return in 2025, the WTA star had posted a cryptic update on Instagram. She was seen working out on the court while sparking speculations of her comeback. “Lavender afternoons 💜,” she wrote in the caption without sharing any other details.
