Former Grand Slam winners Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki given wild cards to play at Indian Wells

ByLewis Mason

Updated 13/02/2024 at 19:25 GMT

Venus Williams has been out of action since her defeat at last year's US Open. She brought her season to a premature end after struggling with injury but will play her first tournament of 2024 in California after being awarded a wild card for the competition. Caroline Wozniacki - who won the tournament in 2011 - is returning to the desert for the first time in five years.

Venus Williams will make her return to action at Indian Wells, after being awarded a wild card for the competition.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion is yet to play competitively in 2024 and brought her season to an end early last year after losing in the first round of the US Open - where she was beaten in straight sets by Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen.

At the back end of last year, Williams said she would be targeting a return in March “when the tournaments go back to the States” and she has stayed true to her word.

Tennis

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

24/04/2024 at 08:40

After struggling with injuries, the former world No.1 said she needed time for her knee to heal following her early US Open exit.

Williams, 43, will be back at Indian Wells for the first time since 2019, when she reached the quarter-finals.

Caroline Wozniacki has also been handed a wild card and will make her first appearance at the tournament in five years.

The Danish player came out of retirement last year - after three years away - and enjoyed a run to the fourth round of the US Open, before losing to Coco Gauff.

Wozniacki - who won the Australian Open in 2018 - did play the first major of this year in Melbourne but was defeated in the second round.

• Alcaraz admits he would prefer 'dream' Olympic gold over Slam in 2024
• Raducanu ‘struggled with everything’ in Qatar Open exit as Swiatek, Osaka progress

She will be hoping for a better run at Indian Wells, where she lifted the trophy in 2011 with victory over Marion Bartoli in the final.

The 2024 BNP Paribas Open will be held March 3-17 at the Indian Well Tennis Garden.

Australian Open final highlights: Sabalenka is champion again after triumph over Zheng

- - -

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

WTA Charleston

Collins 'so grateful' for Williams sisters' support after winning Charleston title

08/04/2024 at 10:11

WTA Charleston

Wozniacki blows away Kessler in dominant Charleston Open first-round victory

01/04/2024 at 21:59

WTA Miami

Kalinina rescues match point to defeat Wozniacki, Boulter's opponent withdraws

21/03/2024 at 21:41