Serena Williams returns to Indian Wells after 14 years

Mary Bruno

Mary Bruno Jul 8, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Serena Williams returns to Indian Wells after 14 years</h1>
                <h2><p>Back in 2001, the crowd at the Indian Wells, Calif. tennis center booed tennis superstar Serena Williams — and her sister Venus and father/coach Richard — as the three entered the arena for Serena's finals match against opponent Kim Clijsters. (See the video). Serena was scheduled to face her</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/mary-bruno-crosscut-com/">Mary Bruno</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <figure class="kg-card kg-embed-card"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YEIeZczHa2Q" width="420"></iframe></figure><p>Back in 2001, the crowd at the Indian Wells, Calif. tennis center booed tennis superstar Serena Williams — and her sister Venus and father/coach Richard — as the three entered the arena for Serena's finals match against opponent Kim Clijsters. (See the video). Serena was scheduled to face her sister in the final, but Venus pulled out at the last minute and the Indian Wells crowd wasn't happy about it. Williams went on to beat Clijsters and claim her second Indian Wells title that day, but she never played the venue again. Until Friday. As <a href="http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/12480685/serena-williams-receives-warm-welcome-wins-indian-wells-return?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">ESPN reports</a>, in her first appearance at Indian Wells in 14 years, Serena Williams received a standing ovation and, though she struggled, beat first-round opponent Monica Niculescu 7-5, 7-5.</p><p>"I feel like I've already won this tournament," said Williams after the match. "I don't feel like I have to actually hold the trophy. I'm already holding up a trophy. I have never felt that way before."</p>
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Back in 2001, the crowd at the Indian Wells, Calif. tennis center booed tennis superstar Serena Williams — and her sister Venus and father/coach Richard — as the three entered the arena for Serena's finals match against opponent Kim Clijsters. (See the video). Serena was scheduled to face her sister in the final, but Venus pulled out at the last minute and the Indian Wells crowd wasn't happy about it. Williams went on to beat Clijsters and claim her second Indian Wells title that day, but she never played the venue again. Until Friday. As ESPN reports, in her first appearance at Indian Wells in 14 years, Serena Williams received a standing ovation and, though she struggled, beat first-round opponent Monica Niculescu 7-5, 7-5.

"I feel like I've already won this tournament," said Williams after the match. "I don't feel like I have to actually hold the trophy. I'm already holding up a trophy. I have never felt that way before."

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By Mary Bruno

Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,