Sorry Not Sorry! Indian Wells Error Denies Venus Williams, Leylah Fernandez Doubles Entry

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 21:19 IST

Indian Wells organisers apologised to Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez for a clerical error denying them entry in women's doubles.

Organisers of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden have issued an apology to Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez after a clerical mistake prevented the pair from competing in the women’s doubles draw.

The tournament confirmed that it failed to properly certify the wildcard entry for the duo before the draw was finalised, leaving them unable to participate in the event.

Administrative Error Blocks Entry

Williams and Fernandez had been granted a wildcard entry into the women’s doubles competition.

However, organisers admitted that the entry was not processed correctly before the draw was made, meaning the pair were unintentionally excluded.

A tournament spokesperson said the mistake could not be corrected once the draw had already been completed.

“The tournament made an error and failed to certify the doubles wild card entry of Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez before the women’s doubles draw was made.

“We worked with the WTA supervisor to review all available options, but because the draw had already been made, the mistake could not be corrected."

Organisers also confirmed they had apologised directly to both players and their teams.

The pairing had generated excitement among fans after their impressive run at the US Open last year.

Williams and Fernandez reached the quarter-finals in New York, where they were eventually beaten by Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, who went on to finish as runners-up.

Their absence from the women’s doubles event at Indian Wells therefore, came as a disappointment to spectators.

Alternative Opportunity in Mixed Doubles

Despite missing out on the women’s doubles draw, both players will still compete at the tournament in the mixed doubles event.

Venus Williams will partner with fellow American Christian Harrison, while Leylah Fernandez will team up with Australia’s John Peers.

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, had already exited the singles competition earlier in the tournament after losing in the first round to Diane Parry, while Fernandez was knocked out in the second round by Siniakova.

News sports tennis Sorry Not Sorry! Indian Wells Error Denies Venus Williams, Leylah Fernandez Doubles Entry

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