Indian Wells: Venus Williams Falls To Frenchwoman Diane Parry, Tight-Lipped On Sister Serena's Return

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 10:13 IST

Parry clinched the win in an entertaining three-setter, which the French qualifier ultimately won 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1 against the 45-year-old American Williams.

American tennis icon Venus Williams was eliminated from the Indian Wells tournament on Thursday, losing in three sets to French qualifier Diane Parry.

The 45-year-old Williams, participating on a wild card at the prestigious ATP/WTA Masters 1000 event, fought back from a set and a break down to force a third set. However, Parry, ranked 111th in the world, dominated the decider with a 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1 victory.

“It’s always so fun," Williams remarked. “Of course, losing isn’t fun, but it’s great to play in front of a home crowd."

While the Californian star has been enjoying the competition since her return last July from a 16-month hiatus, she remained silent on whether fans would see her and her sister Serena play together this year. “You’ll have to ask her that," Williams responded to the question that has been circulating in the tennis world since 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena re-entered the anti-doping testing pool.

Williams is still seeking her first win of the year after first-round losses at the Australian Open and in Austin, Texas. She stated that Thursday’s match was not a true reflection of her performance. “I think today is not the kind of day that you want to assess," she explained. “The conditions are impossible. Also, my match in Austin had impossible conditions.

“In Austin, I refused to relent and change my game and I lost quickly. Today, I tried to adjust. It’s not easy. You can’t trust anything you do out there."

The 23-year-old Parry, who was born after Williams had won the first four of her Grand Slam titles, acknowledged the enduring strength of Williams’ game despite the conditions. “Even if it wasn’t pretty tennis today because of the wind, you can still clearly see the quality of her shots — forehand, backhand — as soon as she gets a ball she can attack, there’s little chance you’re getting it back.

“You can imagine what it was like when she was at her best," said Parry, adding it was an honour to play against a legend of the sport.

“I watched more of Serena, the greatest player of all time, but I think a lot of people forget the career that Venus has had.

“When, during the warm-up, the announcer gave a brief summary of her career, you think, ‘Oh right, that’s really something.'"

(With Inputs From Agencies)

News sports tennis Indian Wells: Venus Williams Falls To Frenchwoman Diane Parry, Tight-Lipped On Sister Serena's Return

Read More