Venus Williams has suggested she is likely to follow her sister Serena and end her 14-year boycott of the prestigious Indian Wells tournament next year . The 34 year-old American gave her clearest indication yet that she would return before the end of her career following a 6-3 7-6 victory over Caroline Wozniacki that took her into the quarter finals . Venus has not played in March 's high profile WTA event in the Californian desert since 2001 when , as has been well-documented , she made a late withdrawal from a semi-final match against her sister with a knee injury . Serena subsequently got a hostile reception when she played in the final . Venus Williams has suggested she will return to Indian Wells doe the first time since 2001 . The elder Williams sibling reached the quarter finals of the Miami Open on Monday . Williams shakes hands after defeating Carloine Wozniacki in straight sets at the event in Key Biscayne . Rory McIlroy 's former fiancee could not contend with Williams ' game , going down 6-3 7-6 . The younger sibling ended the family boycott this year , and now it looks like both of them may well be back as well in 2016 . Asked what she thought of Serena 's warm reception at Indian Wells earlier this month Venus responded : 'It was wonderful to see . I definitely watched every moment , and it was great to see her and my family there . Next year will be a big year for us being an Olympic year . I ca n't exactly say what my schedule will be , but it was wonderful to see her reception . ' Did that mean she had softened her own stance ? 'Oh , yeah , absolutely . I have heard so much about how much the tournament has just improved in general in terms of the fans and the players . 'So it will be something to see for me . ' Serena is comforted by her family after being jeered by the crowd when winning at Indian Wells in 2001 . The world No 1 returned to the tournament this year where she reached the semi-finals . Williams plays a shot on the run during her fourth round victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova in Miami . Venus said that she had not fully discussed the matter with Serena but went on : ' I think really what Serena did and how she went about it was just awesome for me as a big sister to see , because I feel like usually I 'm the big sister . I feel like in this instance she took the role of big sister . 'It was really nice . I love how , you know , we continue to protect each other no matter what . She did a fantastic job out there , even though she was n't feeling her best . So like I said , I think the tournament 's amazing . I also said next year is an Olympic year , so my whole focus is on trying to get to the Olympics . 'So I do n't know what tournaments I 'm going to play as long as I 'm at the Olympics . That 's my goal , to be healthy enough . So I think it would be awesome to return , but I do n't know what my schedule is next year . It 's going to be all around that . '
BNP Paribas Open Williams has hinted she will return to Indian Wells next year . BNP Paribas Open withdrew from the tournament in 2001 before sister Serena was given a hostile reception in the final . World No 1 Serena returned to Venus for the first time this year . BNP Paribas Open defeated Caroline Wozniacki to reach Miami Open quarter finals .