Did you know Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard Williams, had a detailed 78-page plan, focusing on their tough training? As Serena once recounted, Richard spent nights studying films to teach them the perfect serve, which became a hallmark of their game later as the two sisters went on to claim a total of 30 GS titles. But now, their childhood coach, Rick Macci, who saw the story unfold firsthand, has shared another tidbit that may just make you question: what if Venus picked a different sport over tennis?

Macci first met the Williams sisters in 1991, coaching them until Richard took over in 1995. He keeps sharing fascinating insights into Richard’s unorthodox methods. Richard pushed his daughters hard daily, but also gave them hugs and kisses every hour. He just knew how to get the best out of them.

However, Macci recently shared an anecdote about Venus Williams’ potential that supposedly had nothing to do with tennis. He wrote on X, “Richard told me in May 1991 Compton that Vee Never lost a sprint in school. After seeing Vee soar like Batman I asked why not track. He said her Dream is to win Grand Slams in doubles with Serena. IF YOU CAN DREAM IT YOU CAN DO IT. 14 and 0 Grand Slam Finals!” True to word, Venus and Serena turned out to be one of the most successful doubles pairs in history, winning 14 GS doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals in the doubles category.

Venus was renowned for her speed and agility in school. Later, it became crucial to her success on the tennis court as well, as she reached the World No. 1 ranking in 2002 and won 49 career singles titles. Her running speed isn’t documented like her serve, which peaked at 129 mph in 2007. However, her exceptional court coverage has been the highlight of her career. She has been one of the fastest and most athletic players in women’s tennis history.

Similarly, Serena Williams was known for her athleticism. This complemented her formidable serve that reached 128.6 mph at the 2013 Australian Open. Now two decades later,  they have won 30 singles Grand Slam titles and 14 doubles titles.

And to believe it all started because their father had a dream for them? To have two daughters and turn them into tennis champs after watching Virginia Ruzici of Romania receive a $20,000 check for winning a tournament in 1978. But was it a risk? Certainly! Even Venus agreed that it was.

When Venus Williams shared how her father took a calculated risk

In 2017, Venus Williams got candid about her journey in an interview with Business Insider. While speaking of the dedication her father put into training her and Serena, she was asked if there was a risk involved in it all. “It was definitely risky to put your time and your heart into, but sport teaches you so much, and you can translate that to other parts of life,” she said.

Venus further noted, “But it’s definitely a lot of dedication, not just for, you know, myself or the children, but the parents, the family finances, the money that you could be putting toward retirement you’re using to buy tennis shoes and restring rackets and tennis lessons.”

Additionally, their father not only helped in their training from a young age but also made the decision to move from Compton to the suburbs and then to Florida. Specifically, to provide them with better training facilities. In the end, it worked out. Through grit and hard work, they achieved that dream. As Venus phrased it, “So if you don’t make it, then you may never retire. It’s definitely a lot of risk.”

While Serena hung up the racket in 2022 at the US Open, Venus is still on the tour. However, she’s currently on break and hasn’t featured on the Tour after the Sunshine Double last year. The veteran still holds out hope to return to the court someday. When do you think she may return? Let us know in the comments below.