Former world number one and seven-time major champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry into the Indian Wells Open. (More Tennis News)
The 44-year-old, who has not played a Tour-level match since the Miami Open last year, will be joined by fellow wildcard Petra Kvitova in �🌃�the women's draw.
Williams has competed on the WTA Tour for 31 years and this year's appearance at the competition will be ꦛher 10th at Indian Wells.
She has been a semi-finalist on three occasions (1998, 2001 and 2018), but boycotted the tournament for 15 years after her younger sister, 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams, was heckled by fans during the 2001 f🔜inal.
Kvitova, meanwhile, will be at the tournament for the 13th time after 15 months awaꦦy from tennis following the birth of her first child.
She has reached the last༒ eight on three occasions, including on her most recent appearance in 2023🦄.
Youngsters Joao Fonseca and Learner Tie🔥n, meanwhile, received wil🗹dcards for the men's draw.
Brazilian 18-year-old Fonseca will come into the competition on the back of winning his🌄 first ATP title at the Argentina Open.
He is the youngest South Amer♏ican to win an ATP titl𒐪e in the Open Era and the 10th-youngest player in Tour history.
Fonseca's world ranking has improved from 655 a year ago to a career-high 68 as a result of his performances. He will be making his debut at Indian Wells, having♛ last mཧonth beaten Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open.
Tien is another talent who enjoyed a headline-grabbing campaign ꧙in Melbourne, with the 19-year-old American beating Daniil Medvedev over five sets in the second round.
The Indian Wells Open runs fromꦜ March 2 through to March 16.
