Serena Williams returning to Indian Wells after 14-year boycott

Serena Williams hasn’t played at Indian Wells since 2001. STRINGER/AUSTRALIA/REUTERS Serena Williams hasn’t played at Indian Wells since 2001.

It ranks as one of the lowest points in tennis history, very nearly down there with the stabbing of Monica Seles. This was more conceptual, less physical, but brutal nonetheless. Serena Williams was jeered mercilessly at Indian Wells, Calif., in 2001 by a crowd of affluent white fans, who also reportedly heckled her family with racist comments.

Her crime? Well, there was none, other than winning the title. Her sister, Venus, had withdrawn from a semifinal match against Serena because of tendinitis, 20 minutes before the start. We know by now that the sisters are more than willing to face each other in big matches, even if they don’t enjoy the occasions. But those fans took out Venus’ withdrawal on Serena, and she vowed never again to play the top-tier tournament.

She kept her word, gave up some big rankings points, until Wednesday. That was when Time.com posted a column by Serena announcing that she will play the Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March.

“I play for the love of the game,” Williams wrote in the column. “It is with love in mind, and a new understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness, that I will proudly return to Indian Wells in 2015.”

Williams went on to describe what she said was a terribly painful episode in both her career and her family life, the cause for many tears. Back then, Elena Dementieva of Russia told the media that she thought Richard Williams, their father, was the one who decided who would win any matches between the sisters.

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