Indian Wells organisers hope Williams sisters end boycott
(Reuters) - BNP Paribas Open organisers were hopeful that Serena Williams would end a 13-year boycott of the event at Indian Wells when the world number one's name was listed on Wednesday among the entries for this year's edition.
Williams and older sister Venus have never returned to the tournament in the California desert after being jeered by spectators in a controversial final in 2001 but Serena hinted at the Australian Open last week she might lift the boycott.
"While it is too soon to know whether she will play or not, we are pleased to see Serena's name on the entry list," tournament director Steve Simon said in a statement.
"Based on her comments at the Australian Open, we know playing in the tournament is something she is thinking about."
Williams, who suffered a shock fourth round loss to Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open on Sunday, raised the possibility of lifting her boycott of Indian Wells after being inspired by a movie about Nelson Mandela.
"It actually crossed my mind a couple days ago, or after I saw the movie," the 32-year-old American told reporters at Melbourne Park. "I thought about it... Right now I don't know. I just have to focus on this tournament.
"But I think Mandela was a really amazing man. I felt really honoured to have a chance to meet him, get to know him a little bit, and get to know his story a little better."
"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom", a movie about the anti-apartheid hero, opened just days before his death at 95 last month.
Serena and her sister had been scheduled to play each other in the semi-finals at Indian Wells in 2001 but Venus pulled out minutes before the match, citing injury.
Spectators vented their displeasure with the late withdrawal during the final, booing Serena in her match against Belgian Kim Clijsters and also jeering her sister and father Richard Williams when the pair arrived to watch the match.
Richard Williams alleged he had heard racist taunts from the crowd and the family have not returned to Indian Wells since.
The women's entry list for the March 3-16 Indian Wells event includes all of the top-10 ranked players, among them Victoria Azarenka and defending champion Maria Sharapova.
The men's entry list for the elite ATP Masters 1000 event includes defending champion Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and the rest of the top-10 ranked players.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Julian Linden)
