Venus Williams saw her return to the BNP Paribas Open end quickly on Thursday as Diane Parry of France beat the American veteran 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in the first round.
The match on Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden lasted two hours and 21 minutes in stiff breeze that affected both players. Williams, 45, received a wild card into the WTA 1000 event and stepped on court for her 10th appearance here.
Parry, 23 and ranked 111th, advanced through qualifying with straight-set wins and took advantage of the conditions to claim her first career victory over the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Williams had not played at Indian Wells since 2024 and entered the match still looking for her first win of the 2026 season. She arrived with four first-round exits already on her record, including at the Australian Open.
Parry broke serve once in the sixth game of the opening set and closed it out 6-3. In the second set Williams produced the powerful shots that marked her long career. She broke back early, saved two break points when the score sat at 3-3, and forced a tiebreak. Williams stayed error-free in the breaker and took it to level the match at one set apiece.
The crowd, which had cheered every winner from the American throughout the afternoon, rose to its feet as the contest moved to a deciding set. Williams held her first service game of the third set, but then the younger opponent took control. Parry reeled off five games in a row to seal the victory.
After the final point Williams left the court smiling. Fans stood and gave her a long ovation while she waved in appreciation.
“It was an honor to play against one of the greatest legends of our sport,” Parry said after the win. The French player had reached the round of 16 at Indian Wells the previous year.
The loss extended a difficult stretch for Williams at this desert stop. She has not recorded a victory here since 2019 and exited in the first round during her 2024 return as well. Across her 10 appearances she has never advanced past the semifinals.
For years the tournament carried extra weight for the Williams family. Venus and her sister Serena boycotted the event for 14 years after they were subjected to racist insults from spectators during a 2001 match.
Parry, who qualified by beating Elizabeth Mandlik and Lulu Sun without dropping a set, moves on to face Madison Keys in the second round. Williams had accepted a wild card to compete in both singles and doubles.
The result leaves the former world No. 1 at 0-5 for the season. She showed flashes of the game that once carried her to the top of the sport, especially in the second set when her forehand winners brought the stadium to life. Yet the physical demands of facing an opponent 22 years her junior told in the final set as unforced errors increased.
Williams made her Indian Wells debut in 1996 as a 15-year-old qualifier. Thirty years later she returned to the same grounds, now known as the Tennis Garden, still competing at the highest level. The crowd treated her like the icon she remains, delivering applause from the moment she walked onto Stadium 1 and staying loud until the final point.
Her presence alone drew attention on a day when many top seeds had yet to begin their campaigns. Williams raised her fist after big winners and exchanged smiles with fans between points. Even in defeat the appreciation for her career and her role in growing the sport remained clear.
Parry played the smarter tennis in the wind, keeping balls low and using her slice effectively. She saved break points when needed and stayed steady while Williams tried to force the pace. The qualifier’s serve proved especially useful in the third set, where she dictated play after the early hold from Williams.
This first-round exit adds to a string of early departures for Williams in recent months. She continues to train and compete, showing the same determination that defined her path from Compton, California, to seven major titles and multiple weeks at No. 1.
Tennis fans at Indian Wells have long memories. They remember Williams lifting the trophy here multiple times earlier in her career. On Thursday they showed they still value the chance to watch her play, regardless of the scoreboard.
Parry expressed respect for the moment after the match. She steps into the next round with momentum from her qualifying run and this upset victory. For Williams the focus now turns to recovery and the possibility of doubles action later in the week.
The BNP Paribas Open continues with more first-round matches on Friday. Williams’ appearance, however brief, reminded everyone why her name still fills stadiums three decades after she first stepped onto these courts.
