Venus Williams to Compete at 2026 BNP Paribas Open After Receiving Wild Card

Tennis icon Venus Williams, 45, has been awarded a wild card to compete at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The seven-time Grand Slam champion will participate in both singles and doubles, marking her 10th appearance at the tournament as announced by the WTA.

Return to Indian Wells

Williams last played at Indian Wells in 2024 and expressed her excitement about returning to the event. “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. “This tournament is always such a special experience, and there’s nothing like competing in front of these incredible fans.” as reported by Yahoo Sports.

Doubles Partnership with Leylah Fernandez

In addition to competing in singles, Williams will team up with Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the doubles competition. This pairing builds upon their successful run to the quarterfinals at the 2025 US Open according to the WTA. Williams’ last doubles appearance at Indian Wells was in 2000 with her sister, Serena Williams, where they reached the semifinals.

Recent Performances and Recognition

Despite being eliminated in the first round of the 2026 Australian Open, Williams made history as the oldest woman to compete in the tournament as noted by Yahoo Sports. Tournament director Tommy Haas described offering the wild card to Williams as “an honor,” recognizing her status as a legend of the game as reported by TennisUpToDate.

Tournament Details

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open will take place from March 4th to 15th and boasts a total prize purse of over $9.4 million according to Sportsoftheday. Williams has previously reached the semifinals of the singles competition at Indian Wells on three occasions.