STANFORD, CA – JULY 20: Venus Williams of the United States competes against Magda Linette of Poland during day three of the Bank of the West Classic at the Stanford University Taube Family Tennis Stadium on July 20, 2016 in Stanford, California. Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP
Venus Williams broke down in tears during a Wimbledon press conference on Monday when she was asked about her involvement in a fatal car crash.
Williams is being sued by the estate of an elderly Florida man who died last month after his vehicle was hit by a car driven by the American star.
The 37-year-old is accused of running a red light, inattentive driving and negligent operation of a vehicle, leaving Jerome Barson with a fractured spine and numerous internal injuries before his death several weeks later.
After her 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 victory over Elise Mertens in the Wimbledon first round, world number 11 Williams was repeatedly asked about the incident by the media and eventually became so emotional she began to cry.
“There are really no words to describe, like, how devastating and — yeah. I’m completely speechless. It’s just…” Williams said.
The five-time Wimbledon champion held her head for several moments and asked to leave the room before returning, still visibly shaken, to finish the interview session several minutes later.
