London, Sep 4 : Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, have been unwilling to bend and so the chances are that, in 2010, the sisters will be suspended from the Indiana Wells Championship that they have won eight times between them.

Chief executive of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Larry Scott has been an able administrator over five years but has failed in his inability to broker a truce between the Williams sisters, and the largest event in their native California, the Indian Wells championship.

The sisters were due to play in the 2001 semi-final there but Venus withdrew with a knee injury ten minutes before the scheduled start. That announcement was jeered, as were Serena and her father, Richard, throughout the final two days later.

The Williams family said that they would never return; nor have they, The Times reported.

Scott has attempted to act as a go-between, but both sides have been unwilling to bend and so the chances are that, in 2010, the sisters will be suspended from the Miami tournament that they have won eight times between them.

"I've had several hours of conversation both with Venus, who is on our player council, and Serena and their family and managers about it, and they've told me at this point in time they're still planning on not playing [in Indian Wells]," Scott said.

ANI