Venus Williams blames turbulent conditions for painful loss at Indian Wells: "The conditions were impossible"

Venus Williams return to Indian Wells ended in disappointment as yet she is on the end of another first round defeat since her return to the sport, this time against Diane Parry in a 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-1 defeat. She put a large chunk of the blame on the tricky conditions curtailing her game while offering thanks to her fans for supporting every step of the way.

Making her first appearance at Indian Wells since 2024, Williams was hoping to get another win on the board in the WTA singles, with her most recent one coming in her first match on her return at the DC Open against Peyton Stearns. Since then, it has been a whole heap of disappointment for the 45-year-old who is still motivated to compete at the highest level and will plough on.

It was a relatively even start before the qualifier took authority in the first set with a three-game spurt which saw her go into a 5-2 lead, surviving three break-back points. Williams would rue her wasted chances, and despite holding to love to keep her hopes alive, she was on the end of the same scoreline by Parry who took a one set advantage.

She would then break in the second set but this time Williams was able to get back on level terms before rebuffing a couple of other attempts. A tiebreaker soon came about, in which the seven-time Grand Slam champion came back from 3-1 down to level the match by winning six of the next seven points. It would all be in vain though. After a brace of holds, the Frenchwoman won five games on the spin to send Williams tumbling out of the competition.

Williams may have lost the match, but she still has the support of the crowd with her resembling a popular figure wherever she goes to these days, attracting big crowds on court with her a tennis icon.

"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 after the match. "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."

Her assessment on the conditions was a brutal but straight one as she shared her anguish over the swirling winds she had to somehow play through. "Today is not ​the kind of day that you want to assess," she stated bluntly. "The conditions were impossible."

This is not the first time this has happened, with Williams return to action in her home country being blighted by challenging settings. "Also, my match in Austin the conditions were impossible. I have played the last two matches in very difficult conditions."

The rumour mill continues to motor along in overdrive with constant rumours that Serena Williams may be returning back to the big time in tennis. Teasing a possible return with interviews where she has not given a straight yes or no answer, to her being filmed training on a tennis court looking in good condition.

Earlier this week, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic predicted that Williams would come back to play doubles at Wimbledon, possibly with her sister. The pair are one of the most successful doubles teams to grace the sport, winning 14 Grand Slams together.

When asked whether she would be playing doubles with her sister later this year, Williams was not disclosing anything out the possible return of the 23-time Grand Slam champion. "I think you should definitely ask her that," she hinted.