INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Venus Williams tumbled out of the BNP Paribas Open in her first match at the event since 2001, falling 6-4, 6-3 to Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara on Friday night in front of a sparse, wind-blown crowd that returned after a rain-delay midway through the first set.
Williams played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden since she and sister Serena and father Richard were booed and heckled after Venus withdraw from her semifinal against Serena because of an injury. On Friday, Venus received standing ovations before and after her error-filled, second-round match.
Bothered by the gusty wind, she was most prominent of the upset victims.