The "dramatic return of Serena Williams -- after a 14-year absence -- to the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells was the byproduct of intense, behind-the-scenes conversations initiated by Williams and aided by the WTA and Indian Wells Tennis Garden officials, including" tournament Owner Larry Ellison, according to sources cited by Howard Bryant of ESPNW.com. Talk of Williams' return to the event, which begins Friday, "started over a year ago" but "only became a reality during the final two months last year, when Williams and Ellison were able to reach an agreement." BNP Paribas Open CEO Raymond Moore said, "This is huge for us. The incident several years ago was an ugly one. There were no winners. ... She took the initiative and deserves all the credit to close an ugly chapter." He added, "I had tried as much as I could to engage and talk with Serena, and it was with the help of chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster with the WTA where there were initial signs of light." Getting Williams and Ellison in a room "proved difficult." Sources said that Ellison "asked Williams what it would take to get her to return to the tournament." Bryant noted the conversation was "an example of how the Indian Wells tennis culture had changed with new ownership." Sources said that Venus Williams "did not receive the attention of her younger sister." Her reps at IMG said that Venus "was not asked to return and no one at IMG has been in communication with the Indian Wells Tennis Garden" (ESPNW.com, 3/12).
PLAYERS' REAX: In N.Y., William Rhoden notes Serena on Thursday addressed media members
"to explain why she returned." She said, "I just felt like it was time."
Rhoden writes the tournament, which "dates to the 1970s,
has done fine without her." But this "affluent community has been
tarnished, some would argue unfairly, by the charges of racism stemming
from" the '01 event (N.Y. TIMES, 3/13). Venus said, "You know, she didn't ask me my opinion. She just said, 'I might be playing there.' I said, 'Oh, OK.' That's pretty much the conversation. I just respect every decision she makes, pretty much. It's nothing complicated about it." Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki: "It's my favorite tournament of the year and I love it there, so I think it's great to have her back. It's great for the crowd. It's great for the tournament. It's great for everybody." Tennis player Mike Bryan said, "It's huge for the tournament. ... It's great that they buried the hatchet finally, and I think people are going to love watching her" (ESPNW.com, 3/12).
