Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry for next month's BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, marking her return to tennis after nearly a year away from the sport.
The 44-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion will make her 10th appearance at the prestigious WTA 1000-level tournament.
The former world number one's return to competitive action will begin when the tournament starts on 5 March.
Williams has not competed on tour since her first-round exit at the Miami Open on 19 March 2024, where she lost in straight sets.
Venus Williams has been out of action for nearly a year
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The American tennis icon's absence from competition has led to her current world ranking of 974.
Despite speculation about potential retirement, Williams has maintained a presence on social media, sharing training clips and photos, most recently on Tuesday.
Williams has a complex history with the Indian Wells tournament, having boycotted it for 15 years following the 2001 final.
The boycott came after fans subjected her younger sister Serena and their family to racist abuse during Serena's victory over Kim Clijsters.
Venus's withdrawal from a semi-final against her sister that year due to injury had prompted heckles and jeers from the crowd.
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She eventually made her return to the tournament in 2016, following her sister Serena's comeback in 2015.
Williams has reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells on three occasions, with her most recent appearance in the final four coming in 2018.
She last competed at the tournament in 2024, where she received a wildcard but was eliminated in the first round.
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Venus Williams has struggled with injuries in recent years
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Throughout her career, Williams has amassed 49 singles titles and 23 combined major trophies, along with five Olympic medals.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has also received a wildcard for the tournament as she prepares to return from maternity leave.
On the men's side, 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca has been granted a wildcard following his maiden ATP title victory at the Argentina Open on Sunday.
American teenager Learner Tien, 19, has also received a wildcard after becoming the youngest man to reach the Australian Open fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
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