It turns out 44-year-old Venus Williams will not be playing at the BNP Paribas Open. INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — It turns out 44-year-old Venus Williams will not be playing at the BNP Paribas Open, the tournament revealed on Sunday — days after it announced she would be competing there with a wild-card entry.

The BNP Paribas Open announced last Wednesday that Venus Williams received an invitation to compete in the tournament, which would be her first competition in nearly a year. However, the seven-time major champion has declined the invitation.

Former world No. 1 Venus Williams will not play at next month’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after declining her wild card invitation, the tournament announced on Sunday.

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Former world number one Venus Williams has turned down a wildcard for next month's Indian Wells tournament. Organisers said last week the 44-year-old had been invited but the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion has not taken it up.

Former world number one Venus Williams will not compete at next month's Indian Wells tournament despite the WTA 1000 event giving the 44-year-old American a wildcard, ESPN reported on Sunday.

During an appearance in Denmark on Sunday, former world No. 1 Venus Williams said she would not play at the upcoming BNP Paribas Open in California, a decision the tournament confirmed in a social media post,

Former world No. 1 Venus Williams has been awarded a wild card for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. The 44-year-old will be returning to court after nearly a year.

Venus Williams said Sunday that she is not playing in the upcoming BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., despite event organizers announcing she would be playing in the event.