Venus Williams to return from injury aged 44 at Indian Wells
Venus Williams will return to singles action at the age of 44 next month after being handed a wild card for Indian Wells.
The seven-time grand slam singles champion will compete for the first time since March 2024 after an injury-hit year, while she has not won a Tour-level match since August 2023.
Her only competitive action last year came after she received a wild card to this event and the Miami Open, losing both times in the first round, to Nao Hibino and Diana Shnaider respectively.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, who is about to make her return to the sport following the birth of her first child last July, has also been handed a wild card to the tournament.
The 34-year-old announced two weeks ago she will compete at the WTA 250 in Austin later in February, her first event since the 2023 China Open.
She is a three-time quarter-finalist at Indian Wells while Williams, who is entering her 32nd WTA season, has reached the semi-final on three occasions.
Williams boycotted Indian Wells for 15 years following the heckling of her younger sister Serena during her win over Kim Clijsters in the final in 2001.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Emma Raducanu says she's not 'playing for money' - as women tennis stars return to Queen's
Tennis star Emma Raducanu has told Sky News she doesn't feel like she's "playing for money" and it's not her "main motivation". The British number two, who is reportedly worth around £10m, was speaking as she replied to a question from sports presenter Jacquie Beltrao during a news conference ahead of a WTA 500 event starting this week in west London. Women players are returning to compete at the Queen's Club for the first time in more than 50 years, ahead of Wimbledon next month. Those in the line-up for the inaugural HSBC Championships at Queen's include 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys, former Wimbledon champions Barbora Krejcikova and Elena Rybakina, and British number one Katie Boulter, as well as 2021 US Open champion Raducanu. It means a tour level women's tournament is coming to London for the first time since 1973, when Olga Morozova was crowned the last female champion at Queen's. While prize money is equal at the grand slams and some joint tour events, generally remuneration on the WTA Tour is substantially lower than on the men's ATP Tour. Raducanu, 22, told Sky's Jacquie Beltrao: "There is obviously a big difference [in prize money] and I'm sure a lot players will kind of say their piece on it, but I just prefer not to get involved and just whatever the situation is I'll kind of roll with it, but I'm never really going to take a stand either way." She added: "I don't really get involved or kind of stay in the loop with all the boards and all the decisions and stuff. I kind of just get on with it and I don't feel like I really am playing for money. "Of course I need to sustain my team which is extremely expensive and you know... with my kind of profile, coaches and team members kind of see that. So it is a very expensive sport, but it's not my main motivator of why I play." Raducanu, who is managing an ongoing back issue, also said her expectations for how she does in the Queen's tournament were "pretty low". "I played points for the first time today. I've had maybe like two, three days on the grass court, so it's not been much, but I just have to take it as it goes," she said. Why did the tournament move from Queen's in 1974? In 1974, Britain's governing body, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), decided to move the women's event from Queen's to Eastbourne as the London venue could not support men's and women's events at once - but in 2025 that has changed. The LTA has cited a desire to raise the profile of women's tennis and promote it to more people for the move to the capital. The organisation is committed to paying equal prize money to female players at Queen's and the Lexus Eastbourne Open by 2029. How much is the prize money for the women's event? The LTA announced last Thursday it would pay total prize money of $1.415m (approximately £1m) at Queen's, the highest for a WTA 500 event of its draw size this year. But that is still less than half of the prize pot that will be paid out to the male players the following week for the equivalent 500 tournament on the ATP Tour, where the line-up includes world number two Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. The LTA has stated an aim to achieve parity on prize money before 2029 but its rationale comes against a £4m loss made across the grass-court events it staged last year - Wimbledon is run by the All England Club - with the men's event at Queen's the only profitable tournament. 'Significant increases to prize money' Scott Lloyd, the governing body's chief executive, said: "We are making significant increases this year to the women's prize money at Queen's and Eastbourne and want to achieve equal prize money as soon as possible. "The LTA is committed to growing women's tennis, both at professional and grass-roots level, and this move is an important part of that commitment. "This year fans will be able to enjoy both men's and women's tennis on the biggest stages that we can offer and we want to develop the tournaments so that the women's events deliver a path to profitability and greater visibility for the sport." The Queen's Club is named after Queen Victoria, its first patron, and is regarded as one of the premier Lawn Tennis and Racquets clubs in the world.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Emma Raducanu feeling ‘pretty good' as she steps up Wimbledon preparations
Emma Raducanu felt 'pretty good' after completing her first rigorous grass-court training session of the season as she manages an ongoing back issue in the build-up to Wimbledon. The 2021 US Open champion, who suffered a second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, has been hindered by persistent spasming for much of 2025. She is set to play at Queens this week, with grand slam action at the All England Club scheduled to start on Monday, June 30. 'I got back (from Paris) last week and then I got straight back on the court,' Raducanu told a press conference. 'I had a small interruption with a bit of a back spasm again, which was a bit annoying and that hindered my grass prep. But the last few days I have managed to get on the grass. 'I can't really predict the future. I know I have been managing my back for the last few weeks now and it's something that comes and goes. 'It can be frustrating. I try not to let it get to me because I have a pretty good feel when it happens of how to manage it. All I can do is deal with what's in front of me 'Today was the first day I opened it up and played points on the grass. It is pretty early days and I can't say I have had a lot of prep on it. But I felt pretty good today.' British number two Raducanu, who is ranked 41st in the world, was dismantled 6-1 6-2 by reigning champion Swiatek at Roland Garros. Subject to overcoming a qualifier, she could face current Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round at Queens, while she is set to pair up with British number one Katie Boulter in the doubles. 'Playing a doubles match with Katie will hopefully give me a good feel for that surface and it will be positive,' the 22-year-old said. 'I really like playing with Katie. We've practised a few times together in the past at Billie Jean King Cup ties.'
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Emma Raducanu feeling ‘pretty good' as she steps up Wimbledon preparations
The 2021 US Open champion, who suffered a second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, has been hindered by persistent spasming for much of 2025. She is set to play at Queens this week, with grand slam action at the All England Club scheduled to start on Monday, June 30. 'I got back (from Paris) last week and then I got straight back on the court,' Raducanu told a press conference. 'I had a small interruption with a bit of a back spasm again, which was a bit annoying and that hindered my grass prep. But the last few days I have managed to get on the grass. 'I can't really predict the future. I know I have been managing my back for the last few weeks now and it's something that comes and goes. 'It can be frustrating. I try not to let it get to me because I have a pretty good feel when it happens of how to manage it. All I can do is deal with what's in front of me 'Today was the first day I opened it up and played points on the grass. It is pretty early days and I can't say I have had a lot of prep on it. But I felt pretty good today.' British number two Raducanu, who is ranked 41st in the world, was dismantled 6-1 6-2 by reigning champion Swiatek at Roland Garros. Subject to overcoming a qualifier, she could face current Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round at Queens, while she is set to pair up with British number one Katie Boulter in the doubles. 'Playing a doubles match with Katie will hopefully give me a good feel for that surface and it will be positive,' the 22-year-old said. 'I really like playing with Katie. We've practised a few times together in the past at Billie Jean King Cup ties.'
