Serena Williams to return to Indian Wells

Serena Williams vowed never to return to the Indian Wells tournament after an incident in 2001, but it appears as if she will be back in 2014.

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Serena Williams has entered the Indian Wells tournament for the first time since vowing in 2001 to never return.

The sisters were scheduled to meet in the semi-finals in 2001, 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.

Their father later said he heard racial slurs from the crowd during the final.

When the entries for the BNP Paribas Open from March 3-10 were released on Wednesday, Venus Williams' name was absent - but her sister was on the list.

Tournament director Steve Simon said on Wednesday that while it's too soon to know whether Serena Williams will play or not, officials are pleased to see her name on the entry list.

During the Australian Open, Williams said she considered a return to Indian Wells after watching a movie about the late South African President Nelson Mandela, and being inspired by his message of reconciliation.


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Source: AAP


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