Venus Williams given wildcard for Indian Wells tournament
NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Former world number one Venus Williams has been given a wildcard for this year's Indian Wells tournament, organisers said on Wednesday, allowing the 44-year-old American to compete at the WTA 1000-level event for the 10th time.
The seven-times Grand Slam champion boycotted the tournament for 15 years after fans subjected her younger sister Serena and family to racist abuse during her 2001 final victory over Kim Clijsters.
Venus, whose withdrawal from the semi-final against her sister due to injury that year prompted heckles and jeers from the crowd, returned to the tournament in 2016.
She has reached the semi-finals three times, most recently in 2018, and played in last year's event as a wildcard.
On the men's side, 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca, who won his first ATP title at the Argentina Open on Sunday, was granted a wildcard along with 19-year-old American Learner Tien.
Tien last month became the youngest man to reach the Australian Open fourth round since Rafa Nadal in 2005.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Jake Paul leaks ‘s***-talking' private messages with Anthony Joshua goading him about being KO'd as trash talk ramps up
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAKE PAUL revealed he is goading Anthony Joshua about being knocked out - as their "s*** talking" ramps up behind the scenes. Paul audaciously called out the two-time heavyweight champion on his podcast earlier this year - vowing to knock Joshua out. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua having been goading each other via DMs 6 AJ also shared his phone call with Jake Paul earlier in the year 6 Jake Paul insists they're still friends despite the trash-talk 6 Daniel Dubois KO'd Joshua in September Credit: Getty It did not take long for AJ to quite literally call the prankster-turned-prizefighter's bluff by phoning him up - but Paul countered by suggesting a 2026 fight date. And Paul has now revealed the two are already goading each other privately over social media - as all's fair in love and war. He said: "It was all nice, we've been cordial. He DMd me today like saying "LOL" to one of my training clips and then I sent him a "LOL" of of him getting knocked out. "And so I guess like we're kind of s*** talking, behind the scenes a bit. But I have a lot of love for Anthony Joshua. READ MORE IN BOXING PAUL ON OFFER Jake Paul urges UFC to make 'winner-takes-all' Jones vs Ngannou fight "I think this type of stuff is funny and he's a great guy and I think just a fight between us would be awesome and I do believe I can win." Joshua, 35, is yet to fight since being KO'd by Daniel Dubois, 27, at Wembley in September having undergone elbow surgery in May. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed AJ hopes to return before the year is over - meanwhile Paul faces ex-middleweight world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on June 28. It comes after he stepped up to heavyweight in November to face Mike Tyson - who controversially made a comeback aged 58. 6 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Still over 100 MILLION tuned in to watch Paul's eight-round points win on Netflix - but it came at the cost of piling on TWO STONE. And Paul - who gorged on pasta, steaks and potatoes to bulk up - admitted the heavyweight jump was "brutal". Jake Paul reveals 'hefty' six-man hit-list of opponents for next fight including Anthony Joshua and world champ The 28-year-old added: "It was just too much and my body wasn't made for it and even when I got into the ring I just felt too fat. "So cruiserweight is definitely the perfect weight for me." Paul will come down from 16st 2lb to the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb to face Chavez in California. It followed after Canelo Alvarez, 34, pulled out of a shock deal to fight Paul in Las Vegas on May 3 - instead signing with Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh. Canelo - who beat Chavez on points in 2017 - regained his undisputed super-middleweight titles with victory over William Scull in May. And now he defends the 168lb thrown in a September 13 super-fight against unbeaten American Terence Crawford, 37, as Paul was forced to look elsewhere. But he said: "Chavez and I have been going back and forth for a long time and he's always been a great opponent on the list of someone that I wanted to fight. "And now it made perfect sense to go up against him as a former world champion and just continuing to further my resume and get more time under the lights." Paul also revealed he is in talks to fight current cruiserweight champions Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, 33, and Badou Jack, 41. And with Gervonta Davis, 30, also lined up for an exhibition bout - Paul says he is boxing's most desired man. He joked: I'm like like Megan Fox from Transformers movie like everyone wants me! So there's not enough time to do it all and it could make sense. Look, it might. "It might line up but at the end of the day, there's 100 people that want to fight me. I got Canelo, Gervonta, Anthony Joshua, Badou, Zurdo, Tommy Fury, KSI, the list keeps on going. "It's just about what makes sense and we'll see when the negotiations come but I would for sure entertain a fight with him." 6 Jake Paul faces Julio Cesar Chavez Jr next Credit: Reuters
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WELCOME to the torture chamber hosting the world's top stars for the next four days, as the US Open comes to Oakmont for a record tenth time. Some holes are as notorious as the players are famous, with hot favourite Scottie Scheffler calling it 'probably the hardest golf course that we'll play - maybe ever". 11 English ace Justin Rose gets down to business in practice Credit: Alamy 11 Scottie Scheffler is the favourite after three wins in four tournaments Credit: Alamy 11 Bryson DeChambeau asked for patience as he signed autographs Credit: Reuters 11 It's three and far from easy for players at Oakmont this week Back in 2007 legend Tiger Woods took one look at the notorious Church Pew bunker that splits the third and fourth fairways - a 100 yard long stretch of sand featuring 12 three foot high grass ridges - and decided he wanted nothing to do with it. However, reigning champion Bryson DeChambeau will hope to find big-hitting answers. And world no.2 Rory McIlroy aims to build on his maiden Masters triumph. But here's a look at three of the toughest holes any golfer could face - plus the verdict of players on the ominous Oakmont course. Hole 3 (par 4 - 462 yards) THIS difficult par-four provides the first sight of the massive Church Pews bunker down the left-hand side of the fairway. And if you steer too far wide of it, there is a row of deep bunkers down the right waiting to gobble up balls. Rated as one of the toughest holes on the course — just ask Tiger Woods. He made his only double-bogey here in 2007 and ended up finishing one shot behind eventual winner Angel Cabrera. 11 DeChambeau hailed his US Open glory at Pinehurst last year Credit: AP 11 Tiger Woods famously found trouble at Oakmont in 2007 Credit: Getty BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Hole 4 (par 5 - 611 yards) ONE of only two par-fives and considered a must-birdie hole as it is shorter than the 12th — which can play anything from 632 to 684 yards. Church Pews bunker is in play down the left. Going for the green in two means taking on a long, blind shot. DeChambeau and Rose's response to how club golfers would cope at Oakmont US Open course Hole 8 (par 3 - 289 yards) THIS is where The Beast — as Oakmont is known — really shows its teeth. It usually plays into the wind, so most will have to reach for the driver. Johnny Miller made his only bogey when he shot a course-record 63 on his way to the 1973 US Open here. He said it felt like a par! Scheffler's "hardest ever" verdict on the course is more than matched by the assessment of fellow superstar players. Double UPSGA champ Justin Thomas says 'you can look stupid pretty fast' at the US Open venue, and reckons it will 'psyche a lot of guys out before they hit a shot'. But another double Major winner, Xander Schauffele - regarded as a robot at churning out great US rounds after finishing inside the top 15 in all eight attempts - confessed: 'Maybe I'm just sick to enjoy the challenge." 11 DeChambeau watches his practice putt on the 14th green Credit: Getty 11 Scheffler putts on the same hole on the tournament eve Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But is all the talk about this 7,531 yards par 70 being the toughest course on the planet justified? In the words of Dustin Johnson, who won here in 2016: 'Hell, yeah!' Johnson finished four under par nine years ago, on a course playing much easier than usual, because so much rain fell it was nicknamed 'Soakmont'. But only three other players in the 156 man field finished below par - all on one under - and 14 of the 18 holes played above par. Eight of them featured in the top fifty hardest holes among the 990 used on the PGA Tour that year. That did not compare to what happened at the previous US Open at Oakmont, in 2007. That year all EIGHTEEN holes played over par. Angel Cabrera won at five over, a shot clear of Jim Furyk and Woods, who felt he played great that week. Meanwhile, Woods' Pew peril led to caddie Steve Williams suggesting he should throw a few balls in there so Woods could practice escaping from the trap. Woods shook his head and replied: "No way. I don't practice negativity. I'm just going to avoid it. I'll hit away from it every day." The hole that strikes most terror in competitors' hearts is the 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond 300 yards at least once this week. He did, but still only managed to break par once on his way to runners-up spot. But the hole that strikes most terror into the hearts of the competitors is the fearsome 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond the 300 yards mark at least once this week. World No 4 Collin Morikawa did not realise it was a par three the first time he played it in practice. He explained: 'I completely forgot that that was the long par three, and I honestly asked Joe, my caddie, and everyone in the group, do you go for this par four or do you lay up? 'Now that I know it's a par three, I recommend going for it! I'll probably hit driver or three wood and hopefully hit the green. If not, make up-and-down. 'Honestly. it's a hole I'll take four pars right now, and walk away.' Schauffele reckons some players will have bruised egos about using a driver on a par three, but said they had to 'suck it up' to give themselves the best chance of making par. And he reckons TV viewers will love the carnage they are likely to witness over the next few days. He explained: 'I don't think people turn the TV on this week to watch some of the guys just hit like a 200 yard shot onto the green, you know what I mean? 'I think they turn on the U.S. Open to see a guy shooting eight over, and watch him suffer. That's part of the enjoyment of the U.S. Open for viewers. 'My attitude is that you have to stay as calm as possible because we're all going to struggle at times. Maybe that's why I've done so well in this tournament. 11 Sam Burns is a figure of focus as he practices Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 'I think I look pretty level-headed when I play, but internally I might be absolutely just thrashing myself. That happens to me more than you might think. 'I think truly having a good attitude is accepting what just happened, and allowing yourself to be pretty much at zero to hit the next shot.' Thomas believes most of the field will not be able to handle the setbacks as well as the top players. He said: 'Being perfectly honest, and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. This course requires tons of patience and discipline, and not everyone can get a handle on that. 'Above all else, Oakmont tests the mental aspect of your game. But with tight fairways, deep rough, difficult bunkers and lightning fast greens it also tests you to the limit technically too. 'If you just get lazy - like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt - you can look stupid pretty fast. 'But I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult." So sit back and enjoy the ride. It is going to be a bumpy one. 11 Collin Morikawa took a snap of Gary Woodland's club Credit: Reuters
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Palace chief 'sets price' to sell stake as club sweat on Europa League fate
Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor is ready to offload his stake in the Londoners in order to ensure they are able to compete in the Europa League next season John Textor is said to be prepared to sell his stake in Crystal Palace for less than market value in a bid to ensure that the FA Cup winners are able to compete in the Europa League next season. The American, 59, holds a 43 per cent stake in Palace via Eagle Football Holdings but the company also holds a stake in Lyon, who have also qualified for Europe next term. Textor's involvement at both clubs has led to scrutiny from UEFA, who are set to rule on whether or not the Eagles can feature in the competition later this month. Textor and Steve Parish, the Palace chairman, met with Uefa officials last week in a bid to persuade them that the former's 25 per cent voting rights means he is not, in fact, a person of influence at Selhurst Park. But with Palace still facing the threat of missing out on Europe altogether it has now emerged that Textor is willing to offload his stake in the club for a lower price. The Times report that Textor offloading his stake is seen as the most viable way to resolve the matter with a potential sale to his Palace cohorts a possibility. American co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer have matching 18 per cent stakes and a sale to them, if viable, is seen as the 'simplest outcome' for all parties. The report adds that sources close to Textor feel the outlined price of £170million is significantly less than he would stand to recoup otherwise given the club's current market value. Textor's involvement at both Palace and Lyon has caused unrest in the Premier League, too, in light of Uefa's recent meeting over the former's Europa League fate. It emerged earlier this week that Nottingham Forest have written to the authorities to express concern given the multi-club ownership rules that are in place. Forest would stand to profit if Palace were expelled from the Europa League; they are currently set to participate in the Europa Conference League as a reward for their stellar 2024-25 campaign, where they finished seventh in the Premier League. Even if Textor is successful in selling his stake there are concerns that the case could make its way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, further muddying the waters surrounding Palace and their fate. Textor did attempt to put his shares into blind a trust to enable Palace to compete in Europe next season - an act other club chiefs have done - but Uefa ruled their attempts were too late, citing a deadline of March 1.
