Venus Williams: American, 44, given wildcard at Indian Wells despite not playing match in almost a year

Their father, Richard, later accused fans of racial abuse. Serena returned to the tournament in 2015, while Venus played the following year.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 34, has also been handed a wildcard after her announcement earlier this month that she would return to tennis following the birth of her first child in July.

On the men’s side, Brazil’s 18-year-old rising star Joao Fonseca, who won his first ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open on Sunday, was granted a wildcard along with American 19-year-old Learner Tien, who reached the fourth round of January’s Australian Open.

Their father, Richard, later accused fans of racial abuse. Serena returned to the tournament in 2015, while Venus played the following year.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 34, has also been handed a wildcard after her announcement earlier this month that she would return to tennis following the birth of her first child in July.

On the men’s side, Brazil’s 18-year-old rising star Joao Fonseca, who won his first ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open on Sunday, was granted a wildcard along with American 19-year-old Learner Tien, who reached the fourth round of January’s Australian Open.