Coach Rick Macci Includes Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic in His ‘Ultimate Player’

Legendary Coach Rick Macci has coached a lot of big tennis stars throughout his career. He has helped build stars like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Maria Sharapova. Moreover, Andy Roddick and Jennifer Capriati, who have both been formerly World No. 1, were Macci’s students as well.

In a recent interview, the legendary coach was asked to build his perfect player. Thus, taking individual qualities from tennis greats, Macci then created the perfect player.

Serena Williams has ‘never lost’, according to herself and Macci

In an interview with professional coach Kamau Murrey, Rick Macci talked at length about the sport and his former students. Towards the end of the interview, as a parting question, Kamau asked Macci to build his perfect player.

Then, Macci began immediately with the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer. “Federer’s forehand- I like his grip, he gets a tighter spin,” Macci described.

For the backhand of his perfect player, the 67-year-old coach went to World No.1 Novak Djokovic. “Djokovic’s backhand is optimal,” he said. “He pulls in with right, pushes with the left.”

It was then that Macci described the most important aspect of all. “The inner quality of Serena (Williams). To this day, Meek (Serena Williams) probably thinks she’s undefeated in her own way! It’s a way you play this game within the game, in your own mind,” Macci said.

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Macci has, on more than one occasion, praised the mentality that Serena Williams has always had. He even described Venus and Serena Williams as kids who were never intimidated by anything at all.

Macci’s perfect player has Roddick’s serve and Venus’ strides

Moreover, Macci’s perfect player serves like his former student Andy Roddick. “Roddick’s serve because of the way it’s synchronized from the ground up,” Macci explained.

However, Serena Williams is not the only Williams sister in his perfect player’s qualities. Macci then described Venus Williams and her agility. “Obviously, the movement of Venus. No one can go from A to B like Venus… No one’s ever been able to hit on the run like Venus. That would be my ultimate player.”

Undoubtedly, Rick Macci’s ultimate player would be an absolute force to reckon with! What would you pick from different players to build your perfect tennis athlete?

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