Sisters Skipping Indian Wells

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati, who will be the top-seeded player at next week’s Australian Open, are not expected to play the Indian Wells tournament in March.

Capriati, who has not put the event on her schedule, would be the most likely to change her mind if she wanted to add a tournament. A change of heart is unlikely for the Williams sisters, a source said.

Venus and Serena were at the center of controversy during last year’s tournament, after Venus withdrew because of an injury about five minutes before her scheduled semifinal match against Serena, angering tournament officials and fans.

Emotions ran high again days later when the crowd engaged in prolonged and vociferous booing of the Williams sisters and their father Richard during Serena’s final against Kim Clijsters.

Richard later accused some unidentified spectators of racism.

Capriati will be ranked No. 1 in the world next week, passing the injured Lindsay Davenport. Venus is now No. 3 and Serena is sixth. Davenport too is questionable for Indian Wells. She is consulting with noted orthopedic surgeon Richard Steadman in Colorado and may need knee surgery.

Indian Wells did get a boost on another front, announcing a new tournament sponsorship deal with insurance giant Pacific Life of Newport Beach. The tournament will be called the Pacific Life Open and the company has a three-year agreement as title sponsor and an option for two more.

On another front, Pete Sampras’ search for a new agent was a short one. Days after leaving longtime agent Jeff Schwartz, he revisited the issue and decided Thursday to return to AMG Sports, Schwartz’s company.