Can Venus Williams Win Wimbledon 2017 After Fatal Car Accident And Lawsuit?

Despite some very close points, NVenus Williams managed to defeat Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka in straight sets Friday to advance to the fourth round at Wimbledon. Williams, who had broken down in tears when asked about her involvement in a recent car accident, has withstood some tough challenges in the first few rounds, leading many to wonder if she can capture the Grand Slam amid the pressure from her personal life.

The five-time Wimbledon champion has a pending lawsuit alleging she was at fault in a deadly car in early June. In a sport that has few off-the-court controversies, the spotlight has been on Williams as she seeks her first Wimbledon title since 2008.

READ: Venus Williams Breaks Down Discussing Fatal Car Crash During Press Conference At Wimbledon

Evidence of Williams' stress level can be found in a press conference Monday when she was visibly distressed after being asked about the fatal car crash on June 9 in Palm Beach, Florida. Jerome Barson, 78, died on June 22 after suffering a fractured spine and internal injuries.

"There are no words to describe, like, how devastating and, yeah," she said. "Yeah, I am completely speechless. It’s just — yeah, I mean, I’m just . . ." Williams trailed off before crying.

Barson's attorney accused Williams of running a red light, failing to yield the right-of-way, inattentive driving and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Williams told investigators her light was green when she entered the six-lane intersection but she got stopped midpoint by traffic and didn't see Barson's car before she crossed their lane, according to a report by NBC Miami 6.

Williams obtained an emergency court order Thursday against the Barson family to stop the family from examining the cars involved in the crash.

Meanwhile, Williams, ranked No. 11 in the world, is competing in London without the presence of her younger sister, who for years has provided emotional support.

Tennis legend Serena Williams announced that she was pregnant in May. In January, an 8-week-pregnant Serena, 35, beat Venus, 37, in the Australian Open final. There has also been a media frenzy over Serena Williams' nude cover photo for the August edition of Vanity Fair.

At an interview at Wimbledon, Venus Williams said that she has felt the absence of Serena.

"I miss her a lot. I think she misses me," Venus Williams said.

READ: Venus Williams Files For Emergency Court Order Following Fatal Car Crash

According to online oddsmaker Bovada.lv, Venus Williams has the 16th-best odds of winning Wimbledon. She is considered a major longshot at +4,000. Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic has the best odds at +600.

Though Venus Williams is the highest-ranked U.S. player in the tournament, the Los Angeles native has the third-best odds among Americans, trailing Madison Keyes (+2,000) and Coco Vandeweghe (+2,200).

The response from Twitter has been supportive of Venus Williams' prospects of winning her eighth Grand Slam.