‘You Got the Next Female Michael Jordan’- Rick Macci Details What He Said to ‘King’ Upon Meeting Venus Williams

Rick Macci was undoubtedly the driving force in the careers of Venus Williams and Serena Williams. The star coach, along with Richard Williams, guided the Williams sisters to reach the highest level of greatness in women’s tennis. Under their training and guidance, the sisters are two of the biggest names of the sport.

However, while training them in their childhood, did Rick Macci and Richard Williams know that these two will reach where they are today? Surprisingly yes!

In a recent interview, Rick Macci opened up how Venus and Serena were when he first saw them play.

Rick Macci’s first session with Serena and Venus Williams

Rick had flown all the way from Florida to Compton on Richards’s request. Reaching the tennis court at the East Compton Hill Country Club, Rick asserted that he took out new balls but Richard instead preferred old balls.  He said, “I had a box of Wilson balls. He (Richard Williams) goes, “Rick, we don’t use new balls. We want old ones. I want to dig them out, bending.“

Rick further opened up on what happened when he, along with the Williams sisters, stepped on the court. “So now we get on the court. I start hitting with Venus and Serena. We start doing drills. Venus was almost 5’10”. Serena wasn’t quite as mature. Arms, legs, hair, and beads flying off their head.”

The competitive points

Serena Williams and Venus Williams are known for their fighting spirit. Whatever the score is, the two never shy away from trying their level best to fight for all every point. A similar situation was witnessed by Rick during that time. Even though he seemed to be disappointed by the drill skills of the two players, tables changed when he asked them to switch to competitive points. He termed the change a ‘rage’.

“We then started playing competitive points and the whole landscape changed. The footwork got better. They were popping the popcorn extra butter. Everything just changed once I said game on. It blew me away. I never saw two little girls try so hard. There was like rage.”

“There was something inside these two kids. I have a lot of kids who try hard. I have worked with a lot of great players. But this was different,” he further asserted.

The next Michael Jordan

Rick Macci is one of the most successful coaches in the tennis circuit. Being a 7-time USPTA National Coach of the year, the 67-year-old has trained some of the biggest names of the sport. Back then, Macci was working with former World No. 1 Jennifer Capriati. Apart from Capriati and the Williams sisters, Macci has also trained other World No.1’s like Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova. Having such a vast portfolio to his name, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the coach had an eye for talent.

Also read-‘Too Many Hours’- Venus Williams Gets Emotional Over a Place Full of Nostalgia

Going further in his Narration of the incident, Macci said, “Right then I told Richard, “Let me tell you something.” It was more about Venus because she was more mature. “You got the next female Michael Jordan on your hand.”

Macci focused more on Venus at that time. However, being a father, Richard knew the potential of Serena as well. Opening up on the reply he received from Richard, Macci said, “He puts his arm around me and goes, “No brother man. I got the next two.”

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Under the guidance and training of Rick Macci and father Richard Williams, the Williams sisters today stand proudly as two of the greatest players the sport of tennis has ever seen.