Tennis

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.

Police quickly informed Venus Williams she was "at fault" in her fatal car accident, but also explained why she wasn't being cited -- namely that she got "caught in the middle."

Palm Beach Gardens PD released the full bodycam footage from officers on the scene of the June 9 accident. One officer approached Venus and asked her to describe what happened.

She was totally upfront with the officer ... explaining how she had entered the intersection, but stopped when another vehicle made a left in front of her.

The cop told Venus he believed she had violated the right of way of Jerome and Linda Barson -- the couple who T-boned her -- but she would not be getting a ticket. The explanation? "I think you got stuck in the middle of the intersection. It's one of those situations where you had the right way, but you lost the right of way."

His advice to Venus ... let the insurance companies sort it all out.

The bodycam footage also includes the Barsons sitting in their Hyundai, waiting for treatment. Their airbags had deployed and they were clearly shaken up. As we reported ... Linda suffered several broken bones, while her 78-year-old husband, Jerome, was hospitalized for 2 weeks before he died from his injuries.

Venus Williams' car crash was a bloody, chaotic scene ... according to frantic 911 callers.

TMZ obtained the audio, and one witness emotionally described the accident with glass everywhere, and at least one person, Jerome Barson, left badly bleeding from his arm and leg. He died 2 weeks later from his injuries.

The caller also says Venus was able to get out of her car and walk, while Jerome and his wife, Linda were badly injured and unable to exit their vehicle. She eventually recognizes Venus, and says "she was unfortunately at fault."

As we first reported ... the attorney for the Barson estate -- which is suing Venus for wrongful death -- says vehicle data from Venus' SUV shows she went from 0 to 19.9 MPH in about 4.2 seconds as she tried to clear the intersection.

Cops on the scene said Venus was at fault in the accident, but did not cite her -- as seen in body cam footage.

Venus Williams was told moments after another car T-boned her that she was "at fault" for the accident ... this according to the police bodycam footage obtained by TMZ Sports.

The video was recorded in the moments after the June 9 accident that left Jerome and Linda Barson severely injured. Jerome eventually died from his injuries. The officer on scene has clearly spoken to witnesses and is now sharing information about the accident with fellow officers ... and says "I will find her at fault" ... referring to Venus.

And then he walks up to Venus' SUV -- she's still sitting in the driver's seat -- and explains that from the time she entered the intersection and stopped -- for opposing traffic -- the light changed, "and he had a green light, so you kind of violated his right of way."

For some reason ... shortly thereafter the officer says, "I don't feel comfortable citing [Venus] for it."

Full disclosure -- the bodycam footage appears to be edited in places. The source that provided the video says that was done to avoid showing any injuries to people involved in the accident.

Ultimately, the officer's take on what happened won't determine who was at fault in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jerome Barson's estate. A jury would also consider the surveillance video, black box data from both vehicles and other factors.

As we first reported ... the Barsons' attorney says data from Venus' SUV shows she accelerated from nearly zero to 19.9 MPH in 4.2 seconds as she attempted to clear the intersection.

Venus was in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, but still very tight-lipped.

2:25 PM PT -- Barson's attorney, Michael Steinger, tells TMZ he has documentation showing their 2016 Hyundai was in perfect working order. Also, he says data collected from the car's computer proves Jerome and Linda were both wearing their seat belts at the time of collision.

Venus Williams says at least one of the victims in the Florida crash that left one man dead was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident ... this according to new court docs obtained by TMZ.

The tennis star is firing back at the estate of Jerome Barson -- which is suing Williams for wrongful death, claiming she was responsible for the T-bone accident that killed the 78-year-old and seriously injured his wife.

In new court docs, Williams doesn't point out which person wasn't belted in -- but says the injuries could have been reduced had they both been buckled up.

As for the injuries, Williams also says in the docs Jerome's wife's injuries were NOT bad enough to recover damages in a lawsuit under FL law. It's puzzling since Linda Barson claims she suffered a cracked sternum, a shattered right arm and a broken wrist, hand and fingers.

Williams also alleges the Barsons failed to adequately maintain and repair the vehicle in a safe condition -- suggesting they could have avoided the crash with a properly functioning car.

There's more ... Williams points out that "third parties" -- presumably the other cars besides her and the Barsons -- contributed to the hectic scene at the intersection that led to the crash. Williams says those drivers should be held responsible as well.

Video of the crash shows Venus was trying to drive through an intersection when another car turned in front of her, causing her to stop before clearing the intersection. The Barsons T-boned Venus claiming they had the right of way and couldn't avoid her car, which was stopped in an area where it shouldn't have been.

The documents were first obtained by the DailyMail.

Venus Williams' mother says the tennis superstar is still reeling from the car crash that left 1 man dead -- but says she's able to cope because she's a very strong person.

Oracene Price tells TMZ Sports ... Venus is "very much" upset and affected by the June 9 crash in Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- but her family, including Serena, is rallying around her.

When asked what advice she's given Venus on how to deal with the situation, Price says: "It's something that you kinda have to do internally yourself but you'll never forget it. But it'll always be there so you just have to live with it."

As we previously reported, Venus' car was T-boned by another vehicle in an intersection, killing a 78-year-old man. Venus has not been charged with a crime (and likely won't be) but cops are still investigating.

The victim's family has filed a civil suit against Venus -- but Oracene says her daughter isn't worried about it.

As for Serena, Oracene says she's SUPER excited about the pregnancy and can't wait to be a grandmother.

But don't expect the baby to keep Serena off the court too long -- Oracene says Serena is planning to return to pro tennis ASAP because "she likes to compete."

GOAT respect GOAT.

Lindsey Vonn isn't just a huge fan of Roger Federer, she says he's one of her personal heroes ... and praised him as the greatest tennis player of all time!

The ski legend/smokeshow was leaving S.I.'s Fashionable 50 event in L.A. when she told us why Club Fed's the best to ever do it ... over guys like Sampras, Agassi, Nadal and Djokovic.

Might have something to do with the fact RF's just racked up his 19th grand slam singles title despite all sorts of injuries.

Guessing Fed's drive to bounce back inspires Vonn who was banged up pretty badly herself recently ... but continues to beast out in rehab.

Michelle Wie and Genie Bouchard are bringing sexy back to their sports -- giving some golf and tennis unis a Britney Spears themed makeover ... and it's hot.

The two busted out the scissors for a Nike shoot -- and cut their traditional shirts into crop tops ... matched up with thigh high skirts. Wie said the whole thing had a Britney vibe. She's right.

Funny timing considering tennis and golf seem to be cracking down on dress codes lately.

This is way better.