Venus and Serena Williams’ legendary tennis careers weren’t simply born of talent; they were the product of a powerful vision. At the heart of that vision was Richard Williams. But another key figure helped shape their early years: Rick Macci, their first professional coach. When Macci first witnessed the sisters’ abilities in 1991, he was immediately struck by their speed and potential. He famously told Richard Williams, ‘You have a female Michael Jordan on your hands!’ Richard’s response? ‘No, brother man, I got the next two.’ Macci was astounded by their speed, yet Richard considered them ‘slow.’ What drove this surprising assessment?

Though Macci’s time as their coach ended in 1995, as Richard took over their coaching entirely, his bond with the family remained strong. Over the years, he has worked with several other tennis stars, including Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, and Jennifer Capriati. But his memories with Richard Williams still stand out.

Recently, Macci took to X to share a hilarious story. The 70-year-old wrote, “Richard Compton Comedian everyday chirped and complained both Venus and Serena were SLOW. Every single day. He actually was correct as he would show them VIDEO OF A CHEETAH. How smart and funny was this guy!”

Jokes aside, Serena’s game was anything but slow. The 23-time Grand Slam champion had one of the most powerful serves in tennis history. Patrick Mouratoglou, her former coach, called it “the greatest ever.” And the numbers back him up.

Her serve averaged 106 mph, with her fastest clocking in at 128.6 mph at the 2013 Australian Open. Venus wasn’t far behind.

In 2007, she unleashed a 129 mph (208 km/h) serve at the US Open, the fastest in WTA history at the time. On average, her first serve hit 113 mph (182 km/h) and could peak at 124 mph (199 km/h). Speed was never an issue for the Williams sisters.

This athleticism was instilled in them from a very young age. Richard made sure to toughen them for everything that was to come. In his interview with the Guardian, Macci revealed, “If any two people would have felt more pressure – which ruins some people – it could have been Venus and Serena. It made them stronger because Richard and Oracene prepared them for how the world was going to react and respond.”

As the 70-year-old coach had recalled, the girls would run toward the ball with such hunger that he thought “they’d run over broken glass to get a ball.” As Venus Williams had summed it up perfectly once, “We were almost brainwashed to think we were going to be number one.”

Richard Williams had always had a bigger plan for his two girls.

Serena Williams’ former coach reveals King Richard’s unorthodox coaching method

Long before Venus and Serena Williams became household names, their father had it all mapped out. He wrote a 78-page plan outlining their path to success when they were just four and a half years old. His coaching style was anything but traditional. He used worn-out balls and obstacles on the court to improve their footwork and adaptability. He even homeschooled them to allow more practice time and develop their mental toughness. Macci, who witnessed it all firsthand, shared another insight on X.

On March 17, he revealed yet another one of Richard’s unique tactics. He wrote, “He wanted the hitting coaches to call the ball OUT when it hit the line. The Compton Crusader of life lessons wanted the girls to confront and demand the hitter to proceed to the net for a Compton Conference Call. How smart was Richard Willpower. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams”

Richard wasn’t just coaching tennis—he was preparing them for the real world. His goal was to make them mentally unshakable. He knew that if they could handle unfair calls in practice, they could handle anything on the biggest stages. And handle it they did. Serena went on to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era. Venus carved her own legacy with seven Grand Slam singles titles.

Their father made sure they were ready for anything. Which of Richard Williams’ coaching methods do you think gave Venus and Serena the biggest edge? Let us know in the comments below.