Venus Williams, 44, Accepts Main Draw Wild Card into Indian Wells

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday February 19, 2025

44-year-old Venus Williams is coming to #TennisParadise.

The seven-time main champion obtained a important draw wild card from the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday,, together with two-time champion Petra Kvitova, 18-year-old sensation Joao Fonseca and 19-year-old American Learner Tien.

The BNP Paribas Open introduced its first 4 wild playing cards for the 2025 occasion, awarded to Grand Slam champions Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova in addition to rising teenage ATP skills João Fonseca and Learner Tien.

The primary wildcards are in 🥁

Youngsters Joao Fonseca & Learner Tien will make their Indian Wells debuts this 12 months!

Learn Extra: https://t.co/FeY9Dcxmdh#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/FSQLBv4lyA

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 19, 2025

Williams will make her tenth profession look at Indian Wells, having reached the semifinal 3 times (1998, 2001, 2018) and competing most lately final 12 months as a wild card.

Kvitova will make her thirteenth profession look at Indian Wells after a 15-month absence from competitors following the beginning of her first youngster. Kvitova has reached the quarterfinal in Indian Wells 3 times, together with in her most up-to-date look in 2023.

18-year-old Fonseca is recent off profitable his first ATP title on the 2025 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, the place he turned the youngest Brazilian ATP title winner within the Open Period and the Tenth-youngest titlist in Tour historical past. The 19-year-old Tien, a Southern California native, reached the fourth spherical on the 2025 Australian Open.

Per the event, a full listing of 2025 wild playing cards can be introduced nearer to the beginning of the event.