The BNP Paribas Open announced last Wednesday that Venus Williams received an invitation to compete in the tournament, which would be her first competition in nearly a year. However, the seven-time major champion has declined the invitation.

Former world No. 1 Venus Williams will not play at next month’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after declining her wild card invitation, the tournament announced on Sunday.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — It turns out 44-year-old Venus Williams will not be playing at the BNP Paribas Open, the tournament revealed on Sunday — days after it announced she would be competing there with a wild-card entry.

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Venus Williams has rejected the chance to play at Indian Wells The development comes after it was announced she had received a wildcard to compete in the tournament – aged 44. Last week, the

During an appearance in Denmark on Sunday, former world No. 1 Venus Williams said she would not play at the upcoming BNP Paribas Open in California, a decision the tournament confirmed in a social media post,

Former world number one Venus Williams will not compete at next month's Indian Wells tournament despite the WTA 1000 event giving the 44-year-old American a wildcard, ESPN reported on Sunday.

Williams was announced as an Indian Wells wildcard recipient before publicly saying she wasn't intending on playing in the desert.

Venus Williams said Sunday that she is not playing in the upcoming BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., despite event organizers announcing she would be playing in the event.

Venus Williams received a wild-card entry on Wednesday for the BNP Paribas Open, making next month’s tournament in Indian Wells, California, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion’s first event in nearly a full year.