INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Serena Williams has entered the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2002, when she won the tournament in Southern California.
Williams and older sister Venus have boycotted the event for the last 11 years. In 2002, the sisters were scheduled to meet in the semifinals, but 20 minutes before the match, Venus withdrew and fans booed them.
Serena went on to win her second title at Indian Wells, but she and Venus said they would never return.
Entries were released Wednesday, and Venus Williams’ name was not on the list.
Also entered on the women’s side were No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, No. 3 Maria Sharapova, No. 8 Jelena Jankovic, No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, who beat Serena Williams in the Australian Open this week, and Daniela Hantuchova.
