'I'm not playing': Bizarre twist after 44-year-old Venus Williams given wildcard to big tournament
Updated . First published
There has been a bizarre twist in tennis great Venus Williams' supposed comeback to the court.
It was on Thursday that the 44-year-old seven-time grand slam singles champion was given a wildcard to the BNP Paribas Open next month at Indian Wells.
The news raised some eyebrows given she hasn't stepped foot on a court since a first-round loss at the Miami Open last March.
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That was less than two weeks after she lost her opening match at Indian Wells.
But on Monday audio was leaked on social media from a speaking event over the weekend, at which Williams denies she intends to play at Indian Wells - which many consider the sport's fifth major.
"That wasn't true," Williams is heard laughing.
"I found the announcement super amusing... people seem to be happy, so I was like I don't know, maybe I just go with it.
"I'm gonna be overseas, I'm not gonna be here, so I'll be watching it on TV.
"I'm not playing... I found out about the wildcard when you guys did."
Indian Wells later confirmed to tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg that Williams had declined the wildcard.
"Our team has been informed that Venus is not accepting the wild card this year," Tommy Haas said.
"We wish Venus all the best and hope to see her back in Indian Wells in the future."
Her first appearance at Indian Wells came in 1994.
Williams won five titles at Wimbledon and two at the US Open in singles, along with 14 grand slam doubles titles with her younger sister, Serena.
Venus Williams. Getty
Other wildcard recipients announced last week include two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova — who is returning to action after a 15-month break while giving birth to her first child — and teenagers João Fonseca and Learner Tien.
Fonseca, 18, won his first ATP title at the Argentina Open this month.
Tien, 19, reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.
The BNP Paribas Open runs from March 2-16.
- with AP
