The Merida Open is one of two WTA hard-court tournaments that will be played in the lead-up to Indian Wells. This year, the event will be part of the WTA 500 series, offering lower-ranked players the opportunity to gobble up valuable ranking points.

Tennis legend Venus Williams has received a wild card entry for next month’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, in what would be the 44-year-old’s first event in almost a year.