MUMBAI: Venus Williams suffered a first round defeat at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Thursday, losing to Diane Parry with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1. The result adds to Williams’ challenging comeback, marking her eighth consecutive loss in WTA singles matches.
The 45 year old entered the tournament as a wild card, highlighting her enduring connection to Indian Wells, where she made her debut three decades ago in 1996. Despite rallying in the second set to force a tiebreak, Williams could not maintain momentum, allowing Parry, ranked 111th, to dominate the decisive third set. This was Williams’ 10th appearance at the tournament, her first since 2024, when she also exited in the opening round as a wild card.
Williams’ return to competitive tennis has been difficult, with her only recent tour win coming at last year’s Washington event. Earlier this season, she also faced first round exits in both singles and doubles at the Australian Open.
Following her victory over Williams, Diane Parry will face 15th ranked Madison Keys in the second round on Saturday.
Prior to the BNP Paribas Open, Williams shared her excitement about returning to Indian Wells, saying, “I’m so excited to be heading back to Indian Wells and can’t wait to return home to play in California,” reflecting her strong bond with the tournament and its local community.