The teenager Mirra Andreeva just shook the tennis world, becoming the youngest-ever ‘WTA 1000’ champion at the Dubai Open. But rewind 25 years, and an even greater moment unfolded: one that redefined history. At just 17, a girl from Florida stunned the world, becoming the first African-American woman to win a GS singles title in the Open Era. We are talking about Serena Williams, yes, a name now etched in gold among the greatest athletes of all time. And, as history repeats itself in different ways, Serena takes a moment to reflect, sharing her incredible journey after that life-changing moment at Flushing Meadows.

The story traces back to 1979, when Richard Williams, Serena’s father, sat in front of his television, watching Romanian tennis icon ‘Virginia Ruzici claim a prize money of $40,000, a sum that surpassed his annual salary. That moment ignited something within him! Despite not knowing much about tennis back then, he made a bold decision: his future children would conquer the sport.

By the time the Williams sisters turned pro in the mid-1990s, they were already a force to be reckoned with. Yet, Richard boldly declared that his younger daughter would be the greatest of all, and in 1999 at the US Open, she proved her father right. At just 17 years old, Serena embarked on an extraordinary journey to her first Grand Slam trophy.

Serena’s path to glory was nothing short of legendary as she took down superstars of the game like Kim Clijsters, followed by GS champions Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles, and defending champion ‘Lindsay Davenport.’ And then came the ultimate showdown against Martina Hingis, an 18-year-old prodigy favored to win the final. But we all know about Serena’s power, poise, and fearless determination, don’t we? Well, Williams dominated the match, securing a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory, while etching her name in history as the first Black American since Arthur Ashe in 1975 to win a singles GS, and the first Black American woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 to claim a major title.

And, now, 25 years later, Serena recalls that iconic breakthrough while participating in a trend called, ‘It Girl,’ reminding the world of the history she made. She shared a throwback photo on Instagram, captured by Clive Brunskill, with a heartfelt message: “You at 17 without cheating!”. 

And, through all the glories and records, one constant in Serena’s journey to greatness has been her father, Richard. His unwavering belief and relentless support paved the way for her unprecedented 23 GS glory. And, a glimpse of this was captured in Serena’s ESPN-produced documentary series, “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” with a heartfelt clip of father Williams reflecting on his daughter’s extraordinary legacy over the years. 

“Today, when I look at Serena. It’s just phenomenal. Matter of fact, when I think about what Serena has done, I could have never thought she could do as much as she could do. She’s done so very well with herself and her family and on and on. I’m so proud of Serena for being a great, unbelievable champion,” Richard remarked. 

While Richard Williams paved the way for Serena to achieve her glory at the 1999 US Open, there was another man who played a crucial role in her foundation: her childhood coach, Rick Macci.

“He wanted a role model” — Rick Macci shared his view about the first meeting with Richard Williams 

William sisters’ journey to greatness began in 1991 when they first trained under renowned American coach ‘Rick Macci’. For four years, Macci nurtured their generational talent before their father took full charge of their coaching in 1995. 

During that time, Macci played a crucial role in shaping Serena’s game, spending countless hours honing her skills and mindset. His impact was so profound that it was immortalized in the film “King Richard.” He later shared the memory of his first meeting with the two tennis icons.

Speaking to Brady Langmann after the premiere, Macci said, “Richard sat down, and Venus was on one leg, and Serena was on the other leg, and they had their arms around each other. Richard asked me 50 questions. If he was going to let someone in this circle, he wanted a role model, a father figure, a mentor. So I respected it.”

And, in the end, Macci wasn’t just a coach: he was the driving force behind Serena’s greatness. His vision, sacrifice, and unwavering belief shaped a champion like Serena, whose legacy will echo through the tennis world for generations to come.