Williams breaks down in tears after being quizzed about fatal car crash

Venus Williams progressed to the second round on the opening day at Wimbledon yesterday but broke down in tears at her post-match press conference after describing the impact a fatal car crash has had on her.

She started crying after she was asked about the collision which led to the death of a 78-year-old man, Jerome Barson. “There are really no words to describe, like, how devastating and yeah... I’m completely speechless,” said Williams.

Venus was speaking to the media after her 7-6, 6-4 win against Belgium’s Elise Mertens. She wiped away tears and after an awkward silence left the room, before returning shortly after to answer tennisonly questions.

When a reporter then asked Williams if being back in the tennis fold helped to “heal those wounds you feel at the moment”, she declined to answer the question.

According to police, Williams was crossing a junction in her Florida home town on 9 June when her vehicle collided with a car being driven by Linda Barson, whose husband Jerome was in the passenger seat. He died 13 days later.

Police said Williams was to blame for the crash, and are investigating.

Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova thanked the crowds for their rousing welcome after the Czech made a stirring return to Centre Court yesterday.

An attack in her home in December left Kvitova with severe injuries to her left hand, and the fear she would never play again. But a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Sweden’s Johanna Larsson in the first round eased Kvitova back into All England Club action.

“It was very special,” Kvitova said of her welcome back. “When we came on the court, I know the British crowd, but today I feel a little bit different. They screamed a little bit more than they normally do.”

Second seed Simona Halep beat New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic 6-4 6-1, while Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina defeated Australian grasscourt specialist Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 7-6 (10/8). American Madison Keys made a bright start with a 6-4, 6-2 success over Japan’s Nao Hibino.

0 Venus Williams: ‘Devastated’.