Venus Williams Won’t Be Back At Indian Wells This Year

Ealier this month Serena Williams announced that she’ll return to Indian Wells after a 14-year absence. But Venus won’t join her younger sister at the event.

“I made my schedule up,” Venus said last week in Dubai. “I think I’m entered in Miami, and that’s pretty much what it is.

“I haven’t really given a lot of thought to (playing Indian Wells). I have just been focusing on this year.”

Venus also didn’t have any influence on Serena’s decision.

“She just said, I might be playing there. I said, Oh, okay. That’s pretty much the conversation,” Venus said. ” I just respect every decision she makes, pretty much. It’s nothing complicated about it.”

See added that the Indian Wells tournament hasn’t contacted her about playing. Venus played Indian Wells four times most recently in 2001 when she controversially withdrew before her semifinal against sister Serena.

Today in Doha, Venus plays Barbora Strycova Zahlavova in the second round.

The 17th-ranked Venus won the Auckland title, then lost in the Australian Open quarterfinals to Madison Keys. Last week she fell to Lucie Safarova in the Dubai second round.

“I’ve been going nonstop this year actually,” the 34-year-old said yesterday. ” I’ve played so much, I feel like, and it’s only February. So far I’m happy.”