‘Yelled at Them Everyday’- Venus and Serena Williams’ Ex-coach Highlights Obscure Trait of Tender Tyrant Richard

“He created his way of how he thought tennis should be played”, said 7-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams on her father, Richard Williams. The father of two began coaching Venus and Serena at the tender age of four and a half, honing their skills in public courts. Inspired by Virginia Ruzici’s tennis prowess on TV, Williams devised an 85-page training plan. While he later admitted that six might have been a better starting age, his dedication paid off as they dominated the tennis world within a few years. And no one knows it better than Hall of Famer Rick Macci, the childhood coach of the Williams sisters.

“We were not allowed to play defense. It didn’t matter if we got to this shot that normally someone would play a defensive shot on. You couldn’t hurt us. We would just play offense no matter what. He really changed the game, and we were his students in that sense,” said Venus in an interaction with Cultured Magazine, dated November 18. She implied that she and Serena had to follow the rules, as they were set by Richard. He was very particular about how they played their strokes and moved on the court. In a post on X, dated December 12, Rick Macci shared an intriguing detail on Richard Williams.

He praised him by mentioning how his strictness in coaching his daughters from an early age helped them to rule the world of tennis. “Richard Willpower Williams pushed his kids hard every Day. He challenged them every Day. He yelled at them every Day,” he wrote. But he also reflected on Richard the father. He knew he was tough, but it was for Serena and Venus’s betterment. “Most of all, he hugged and kissed them every Hour. How smart was this guy! @Venuseswilliams @serenawilliams”, Rick concluded.

But this isn’t the first time we are hearing about King Richard’s harsh training tactics. Back in 2022, Venus had revealed about going through sweaty, tiring training under her father. On Instagram, during a quiz session with fans, she was asked about her favorite trick shot. In her response, she said, “I don’t have any trick shots. We never practiced them growing up. My dad was strict. We practiced winning shots lol. The players that hit those shots, put a lot of time into it. It’s not by chance.”

However, Richard was not just a strict trainer, but a brave and fearless father. So much so that he once went against gang members for his daughters’ training!

When Richard Williams took a beating for Serena Williams and Venus’ tennis career

In the late 80s and early 90s, tennis was still considered a white sport. During their childhood, Serena Williams and Venus had to witness criticism from people while going for different tournaments. At one point, they asked him, “Daddy, why do people stare at us so badly?” Answering them, Richard said, “Because they are not used to seeing such beautiful people before.”

On several occasions, Richard even took a beating from gang members and bullies while protecting his daughters. Especially during their training sessions. Once, he, along with Serena and Venus, was told to leave the practice court. When he refused to do so, the bullies broke his jaw, nose, and some of his teeth as well. While recalling those moments, Richard later wrote in his diary, “After today, history will remember the ‘toothless’ man as a monument of courage.”

On a different occasion, Richard was seen interrupting Venus’ interview with ABC News when she was 14-years old. Journalist John McKenzie was curious to know if she could beat her opponent in an upcoming match. In her response, Venus said, “I know I can beat her.” Repeating himself, McKenzie asked, “You know you can beat her?” Venus replied, with a smile on her face, saying that she was confident she could do that. The journalist wasn’t able to believe how was she so much confident of her victory. After hearing this conversation, Richard didn’t wait long to cut the interview.

While explaining his reason for doing so, Richard told McKenzie, “You’ve got to understand that you’re dealing with an image of a 14-year-old child. And this child gonna be out there playing when your old ass and me are gonna be in the grave. When she says something, we done told you what’s happening. You’re dealing with a little Black kid — and let her be a kid. She answered it with a lot of confidence. Leave that alone.”

What are your thoughts on Richard, the protective father and a strict coach? Do you think his ways helped Serena and Venus to become the best in tennis? Let us know in the comments below.