Tennis

Venus Williams is finally making herself available to talk to opposing lawyers about the fatal car crash ... and the wrongful death lawsuit.

According to a court doc obtained by TMZ Sports ... Venus will sit for a deposition on November 9 in West Palm Beach. As we first reported ... attorneys for the estate of Jerome Barson said the tennis superstar had refused to respond to their repeated requests since July.

Barson's attorney, Michael Steinger, tells us, "After months of avoiding our repeated requests for deposition and after requesting the court order the same, we are pleased that Ms. Williams realized the importance of her testimony in this very serious case."

Serena Williams, fiance Alexis Ohanian and Marc Anthony all rocked with Bruno Mars backstage before his concert in Miami Wednesday night ... but Serena's bod stole the show.

The tennis superstar just gave birth to baby Alexis a little over a month ago ... and she's already squeezin' into a skin-tight dress from gal pal Eva Longoria.

You could tell Serena and Alex were PUMPED to get some face time with Bruno backstage ... and later during the show, jammin' to "Just the Way You Are" with Marc.

But Serena says not even an "amazing" Bruno show can compare to mom life ... 'cause cuddlin' up with Alexis after the concert is "priceless."

Venus Williams has a new defense in her fatal car accident, and she's laying blame squarely on a third driver who drove away from the scene unscathed ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Venus filed new docs in the case which reference an unidentified driver in a dark-colored sedan. She says that driver, who was heading in the opposite direction, violated her right of way by cutting in front of her in the intersection ... to make a left turn.

What she's describing is clear in the surveillance video TMZ Sports first posted.

Venus says that other driver's "improper left hand turn" made her slow down, and stop to avoid hitting the sedan.

The video shows what happened next. Venus continued through the intersection, but police say by that time, the light had turned red ... hanging Venus out to dry in the intersection. Seconds later Linda Barson t-boned Venus' SUV. Barson's husband later died from his injuries in the accident.

In the docs, Venus says if she's at fault at all for the wreck ... the unidentified sedan driver should at least share the blame.

The man killed in the Venus Williams car crash suffered major internal injuries -- including lacerated organs and broken bones in his back ... this according to the autopsy obtained by TMZ Sports.

The Medical Examiner has released the report regarding 78-year-old Jerome Barson -- who was in the passenger seat of a 2016 Hyundai which slammed into Venus' Toyota Sequoia on June 9.

The reports shows Barson was rushed to the hospital with a lacerated spleen, a tear in his small intestine, damage to his colon, a broken pelvis and multiple spinal fractures.

The ME says Barson remained in critical condition in the hospital ICU until he died on June 22 from complications from injuries he suffered in the crash.

Barson's family is suing Williams -- claiming she's to blame for the accident since her car was in the intersection when it wasn't supposed to be ... causing Barson's car to slam into it.

The father of Serena and Venus Williams has finally agreed with his estranged wife on something -- it's best if we stay the hell away from each other!

TMZ Sports has learned 75-year-old Richard Williams and 38-year-old Lakeisha Williams have asked the court to grant a "mutual restraining order" -- barring both sides from contact during their nasty, nasty divorce.

As we previously reported, Lakeisha accused Richard of cutting her off and leaving her and their young child in financial ruin. She also claims he's gun-obsessed and dangerous.

Richard claims Lakeisha is an alcoholic who's been stealing money from him. Both sides deny each other's allegations.

British tennis star Dan Evans will have to sit out 1 year after testing positive for cocaine ... the International Tennis Federation announced on Tuesday.

Evans got popped for coke back in April after competing in an ATP World Tour event in Barcelona. The ITF says Dan will forfeit his points and prize money from the event.

One silver lining -- Evans' suspension will be back-dated ... meaning he'll be eligible to return in April 2018.

When his test failure came to light, Dan publicly apologized -- "I made a mistake and I must face up to it. I do not condone for one second that this was acceptable behavior."

"I’ve let a lot of people down: my family, my coach, my team, sponsors, British tennis and my fans. I can only deeply apologize from the bottom of my heart."

You're looking at Maria Sharapova's worst nightmare -- a fully SNAPPED BACK Serena Williams ... looking fit, focused and ready to beat that ass ... less than a month after giving birth.

Serena gave birth to little Alexis Jr. on Sept. 1 -- and spent several days in the hospital due to "complications."

But early Thursday morning, Serena posted her first full-body post-preggo selfie -- and she looks superhero fit.

Seriously, this is a woman who won a major tennis tourney while pregnant -- who crushed it in the gym at 35 weeks pregnant -- and whose mother guaranteed she'd return to dominate the pro game after the kid was born.

So, when will Serena return? The next Grand Slam is the Australian Open in January ... the same tourney she won while she was in her 1st trimester.

You've been warned.

Bankruptcy, shmankruptcy ... German tennis legend Boris Becker wasn't about to let a little "historic debt" stop him from goin' hard at Oktoberfest!

Just three months ago, a U.K. judge declared Becker bankrupt after a private banking firm said he owed them a TON of dough. Boris' own people admitted he was terrible with money.

But that was then ... now he's partying his problems away at Oktoberfest in Munich -- rockin' out to his native jams with a bunch of Bavarian babes.

No beer in hand, surprisingly, but we're guessing the ex-playboy got his chug on at some point (c'mon, that's what you do at Oktoberfest!).

Not sure who Boom Boom's lady friend is ... but don't worry, his wife Lilly's also with the gang at the fest.

The big question ... who pays for the beer?

New mom Serena Williams just penned a powerful letter to her own mother -- thanking Oracene Price for showing her how to be a strong, black woman in a world filled with ignorance and hate.

"I'm not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman," Williams wrote.

"Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges -- ones that I enjoy."

In the letter, Serena addresses all the harsh criticism she heard on her way to the top -- including being labeled a man and a steroid user -- and says she never could've overcome it without her mom's guidance.

"I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said I don't belong in women's sports -- that I belong in men's -- because I look stronger than many other women do."

"It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage)."

"I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don't all look the same."

Serena says she's gonna pass on those life lessons to her newborn daughter, Alexis Olympia ... and asks for her mom's continued help along the way.

Here she is ... the first kid to ever win a major tennis tournament from inside the womb!!!!

Serena Williams and baby daddy Alexis Ohanian just revealed the first pic of their brand new daughter -- Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr.

That's right ... she's got the same name as her daddy -- and she's a junior!

Serena says Alexis Jr. weighed 6 lbs 14 ounces when she was born on Sept. 1.

And she's already crediting the kid with winning a Grand Slam title, since Serena won the Australian Open while she was pregnant with A2.

But the delivery wasn't exactly smooth sailing -- 35-year-old Serena says there were "a lot of complications" at the hospital that required them to stay there for 6 or 7 days.

The good news ... everything seems fine now and Serena says, "Look what we got! A baby girl!"

Congrats!

Sloane Stephens went from beast mode to feast mode after her win at the US Open this weekend ... chowing down on some fancy steak to celebrate.

Sloane hit up STK Downtown Saturday in NYC to celebrate her win against Madison Keys, and ate like the champ she is! Our steak sources tell us she brought about 70 people for dinner around 11 PM. The group ordered up tuna tartare, STK's signature sliders, shrimp cocktails and, of course, several steaks.

Eyewitnesses tell us Sloane passed on the booze, but fully indulged in chocolate chip cookies.

Serena Williams allegedly hates her stepmother so much, she ordered the woman to vacate the family home immediately ... or else she'll change the locks.

At least that's the story Serena's stepmom told a judge in new docs filed in Florida ... in which she begs the court to stop Richard Williams from throwing her out on the street.

As we previously reported, 75-year-old Richard filed for divorce from 38-year-old Lakeisha Juanita Williams back in June after 7 years of marriage. They have a son together.

Lakeisha claims Richard has ordered her out of the Florida home where they lived -- a home she claims is owned by his daughter, Serena Williams.

In the court docs, Lakeisha says Serena's legal team fired off demand letters "requesting she and the child vacate the home and threatened to change the locks."

So far, Lakeisha refuses to budge.

Lakeisha has also filed an emergency motion begging the court to force the sale of another property they owned together because she needs the money.

She's also concerned Richard has "health issues" and could die -- and if that happens, his fortune could be tied up for years while the courts decide who gets what. She needs the cash, stat.

Victoria Azarenka has picked her baby over the US Open -- officially pulling out of the upcoming tennis tournament because she refuses to his leave the state without her 8-month-old son.

As we previously reported, Azarenka is in the middle of a nasty custody war with her baby daddy, Billy McKeague -- who hit her with court docs in L.A. The judge has ruled Azarenka can not take her kid out of the state until the trial is over -- which ain't gonna happen for a while.

The US Open begins next week in New York -- and rather than leave the baby's side for 2 weeks, the former #1 womens player has withdrawn completely.

"I am sadly unable to compete in this year's US Open due to my ongoing family situation that I am working through," Azarenka says.

Tennis superstar Victoria Azarenka -- one of the best players in the world -- has finally broken her silence on the custody war that could force her to miss the US Open ... saying it's unfair that she has to choose between her job and her kid.

As we previously reported, Azarenka is at war with her baby daddy -- who filed custody papers in L.A. and the judge overseeing the case won't let Victoria take the kid out of the state while the trial rages.

Problem is ... the US Open starts on August 28 in NY -- but Azarenka says she REFUSES to leave her kid behind.

"Shortly after Wimbledon, Leo’s father and I separated and as we work to resolve some of the legal processes, the way things stand now is that the only way I can play in the US Open this year is if I leave Leo behind in California, which I’m not willing to do."

"No one should ever have to decide between a child and their career, we are strong enough to do both," Azarenka said.

Azarenka's attorney, Laura Wasser, recently told the judge the tennis star is more than willing to buy a plane ticket for the baby daddy and put him up in a hotel for the 2-week tournament, but the judge said no.

Still, Victoria is holding out hope that the two sides can reach an amicable resolution.

Serena Williams dusted off the poodle skirt and saddle shoes to travel back to the Fabulous '50s for her baby shower over the weekend ... but not without the help of her superstar friends!!

Being 35 weeks pregnant ain't gonna stop Serena Williams from gettin' her sweat on ... 'cause the tennis superstar is still killiin' it in the gym during her 3rd trimester!!

Williams -- who announced she was 20 weeks pregnant back in mid-April -- hasn't slowed down one bit with a bun in the oven ... playing preggo tennis and posing naked for the cover of Vanity Fair.

Serena told TMZ Sports in May that she's not gonna retire once she gives birth -- and her mom says she's gunning to return to the court as soon as possible.

G.O.A.T.