By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Legendary 44-year-old Venus Williams is set to shine at #TennisParadise!
The iconic seven-time Grand Slam winner has been awarded a main draw wild card for the BNP Paribas Open, joining two-time champion Petra Kvitova, rising star Joao Fonseca, and 19-year-old American talent Learner Tien.
The BNP Paribas Open proudly announced its initial wild card recipients for the 2025 tournament, featuring Grand Slam legends Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova, along with promising youngsters João Fonseca and Learner Tien.
The first wildcards have arrived! 🥁
Teen sensations Joao Fonseca & Learner Tien are ready to make their debut in Indian Wells!
Discover more: https://t.co/FeY9Dcxmdh #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/FSQLBv4lyA
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 19, 2025
Venus will be making her tenth appearance at Indian Wells, where she has reached the semifinals on three occasions (1998, 2001, 2018) and last competed as a wild card in 2024.
Petra Kvitova will mark her 13th appearance at Indian Wells after a 15-month hiatus following the birth of her first child. Kvitova’s track record includes three quarterfinal finishes, including a strong showing in her latest performance in 2023.
18-year-old Joao Fonseca recently celebrated a remarkable milestone as he clinched his first ATP title at the 2025 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, becoming the youngest Brazilian ever to win an ATP title in the Open Era and the 10th youngest champion in tour history. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Californian Learner Tien impressed fans by reaching the fourth round at the 2025 Australian Open.
Stay tuned as the tournament prepares to unveil a complete list of 2025 wild cards as the event date approaches!
