Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was hard done by in her return to Indian Wells. On Wednesday, she was defeated in the first round by French qualifier Diane Parry in a three-set battle.
Parry, ranked No. 111 in the world, defeated the 45-year-old American 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1, in the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. After dropping the first set, Williams forced the decider by winning the second set in a tiebreak. However, Parry was too good for the veteran in the third and final set.
Williams returned to competitive tennis at last year’s Citi Open in DC. Even at this age, her passion for tennis hasn’t faded as she finds reasons to exist on the tour. Following her underwhelming performances and early exits, some are wondering the role of Williams on the tour. When a reporter asked Williams if she was working as a “mother hen” (mentor to younger WTA players), the multiple-time Wimbledon champion straight up denied:
“No.”
It suggests Williams is not here just for the sake to exist. She is here to compete and go toe-to-toe against much younger players on the tour.
Williams entered the 2026 Indian Wells Open as a wildcard. It was her 10th appearance in the tournament and the first since 2024. Before the tournament kicked off, she was really excited about returning to the California desert.
“I’m so excited to be heading back to Indian Wells and can’t wait to return home to play in California,” Williams said last month.
Venus Williams On Tough Loss At Indian Wells
Venus Williams’ return to California to play in front of her home crowd met with first round exit, something that has become common since her return last year. After the tough three-set loss, Williams expressed gratitude to fans while reflecting on the loss.
“I have amazing fans that believe in me, and it’s fun to play for them, or even in practice when they come out,” Williams said. “It’s very thrilling. Today was a tough one, but that’s sport and that’s life, and I’ll take what I need to from it.”
Since her return in DC last year, Williams has only managed to win once. At the 2026 Australian Open, she suffered first-round defeats in both the singles and doubles. Before Indian Wells, she also played in Austin, where she suffered a first-round exit.
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