A post shared on social media purports that tennis star Serena Williams died in a car crash recently.

Verdict: False

Williams has been active on Instagram since the claim has been made.

Fact Check:

Tennis player Naomi Osaka has chosen to work with Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou and has since won a match at the China Open, CNN Sports reported. Osaka was nervous to start a partnership with Mouratoglou, but says talking to him helped reassure her of the decision to work with him, according to the outlet.

A post shared on Facebook alleges that Williams was recently reported dead after a car crash. The post shows an image of Williams next to a photo of a massive car wreck.

The caption reads, “JUST IN: ‘FAREWELL TO A TENNIS LEGEND’: Serena Williams Reportedly Passes Away Following Tragic Car Crash in Texas. Reports have surfaced this morning that the 23-time Grand Slam champion has tragically passed away following a deadly car crash in Texas.”

The claim is inaccurate. The article on Facebook was dated September 23, 2024. Williams has appeared in videos posted on her social media since this claim was made.

The image of the car wreck is not recent or related to Williams. The image appeared in a news report in Oct. 2023 from 11 Alive and indicates that the crash occurred in Georgia 400 northbound at Mt. Vernon Highway. (RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Post Claims ‘ABC Whistleblower’ Died In Car Crash)

This is not the first time misinformation about a celebrity has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim Taylor Swift canceled tour dates after endorsing Kamala Harris.