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.

It turns out 44-year-old Venus Williams will not be playing at the BNP Paribas Open. The tournament in Indian Wells, California, revealed on Sunday that Williams won't play, days after it announced she would be competing there as a wild card.

Venus Williams has rejected the chance to play at Indian Wells The development comes after it was announced she had received a wildcard to compete in the tournament – aged 44. Last week, the