“Back in 1991 to ’94, it was really me and Richard against the world. He was my best friend, and Venus and Serena were like family. They were like my daughters,” Venus and Serena Williams coach Rick Macci had said. Macci began coaching Venus and Serena Williams when they were 10 and 9 years old, respectively. Both of them trained with Macci between 1991 and 1995. As Macci Puts it, “When you’re with someone every day, four, five hours a day, six days a week for four years, that’s a long time.” So he has seen very closely how their father Richard Williams, without any conventional knowledge about the sport, raised two of tennis’ biggest superstars.

In the 1990s, Rick Macci was also focused on coaching the former world number one, Jennifer Capriati. However, with the emergence of the Williams sisters, he decided to shift his attention more toward working with them and hence he built a bond with their family. So, he is often seen providing tidbits from the Williams sisters’ younger days and also often explains the pivotal roles that their parents had played in their tennis journey. 

Recently, this renowned tennis coach came up with valuable advice for all the parents. In his tweet, he reflected on his admiration for King Richard and went on to add, “All junior tennis parents have to understand the most important item on the menu. It is not where you start it is where you finish. @Venuseswilliams @serenawillliams @JenCapriati.” It seems that Richard knew very well where he wanted to finish. And he knew it even before Venus and Serena were born.

Williams sisters’ father had devised a 78-page plan to turn his yet-to-be-born daughters into tennis champs after watching, on television, Virginia Ruzici of Romania receive a $20,000 check for winning the 1978 French Open. For learning the sport, Richard took lessons from a guy named Old Whiskey, whom he said he paid in booze, Time had reported in 2021. But getting them a coach was not an easy deal.

Richard is known to have sent tennis footage of the two sisters to noted instructor Vic Braden. Braden, although impressed, told Richard why he can’t take on Venus and Serena as pupils. “It’s like asking somebody to believe that you have the next two Mozarts living in your house,” Braden had said. But Richard’s enthusiasm did not dampen. The search continued, and it landed on Macci.

Macci has not yet forgotten that first day, when the two sisters, with their father, came to visit him and he saw them playing. “The burning desire to get to the ball—I never saw this in two little girls, ever. And now I’m thinking, Wait a minute. They’re going to be 5’10”, 6 feet tall. They’re going to have power, size, strength, and quickness,” Richard had said in an interview in 2019. 

Looking at that, Macci had famously told Richard, “You got the next female Michael Jordan on your hand,” something that has also been featured in the movie King Richard. A confident Richard had replied back, “No, brother man, I got the next two.” Rest is history. But as Macci says, there are a few basics that Richard never parted way with while being a parent coach.

In December 2023, recalling the advice that Richard Williams offered to his daughters during their tennis upbringing, Rick had said on X, “The Number One Gold Nugget Richard Williams would say Every Single Day to @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams and why I love The King Compton Crusader and that was to Smile. GOAT FATHER.” Well, in August this year, Macci came up with a social media post claiming, “Was asked what is the single best advice to give parents of junior tennis players. Great question. Easy answer. THEY ARE KIDS FIRST AND TENNIS PLAYERS SECOND. @Venuseswilliams @serenawilliams.” This is something that Richard also agreed with.

“In all matters, including tennis, I decided I would always be their father first. It was the best decision I have ever made. I have seen so much damage in this world done by parents who take the other road,” Richard had said. Indeed, instances are plenty. Tennis dads like Stefano Capriati admitted he put too much pressure on his early-’90s phenom daughter. Jim Pierce was accused by daughter Mary of physical and verbal abuse; at one point she even filed a restraining order against him. But despite giving his daughters the breathing space did not mean lenience.

According to Macci, “They never made excuses. Excuses were illegal in the Williams family. The life lessons Richard and Oracene taught daily are on the Parents Mt. Rushmore. Even more so the two little warriors that Heard every word but even more important Listened. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams.” Now, after hearing about all these, fans may become more curious to know: How different were Venus and Serena Williams‘ father, Richard Williams’ parenting as compared to other tennis parents?

Why Venus and Serena Williams’ father was always a stand-out?

The journey was never easy, but Richard Williams didn’t ever give up on fulfilling the dreams of his daughters! He even had to fight with gang members for his daughters’ training. Reflecting on her thoughts about the role of her life, Venus Williams once said, “People didn’t understand him but I think that it didn’t take long for people to realize that this is a guy who’s for his family, for his daughters, ride or die, no matter what.” Even Serena Williams has also, time and again, mentioned the contribution of her father to their careers.

His approach toward the game was pretty much out of the book. He always tried to protect her daughters from the outside tennis world. Talking more about his tennis lessons, Venus Williams once said, “He wanted us to have fun first over anything. That’s the thing I loved most.” How different was Richard Williams from other tennis parents? Let’s check out what Rick Macci has to say on this.

According to Macci, “I love Richard Williams, he was more of a psychologist, a parent like none other, he treated them like kids because he knew they were only going to be kids once.” He also spoke about how parents have to be a bit “careful” and understand that success is not a “straight shot.” His advice to all the parents is that they should know when to back off because Macci feels not everyone knows that nowadays. Share your thoughts on these life lessons given by two of the biggest figures in the tennis world.