Serena Williams’ Childhood Coach Reveals Richard Williams’ Ingenious Strategy
Rick Macci, who coached Serena and Venus Williams during their formative years, recently shed light on Richard Williams’ astute approach to their training. Richard, their father, took charge of their coaching early on, displaying a shrewdness that belied any perception of simplicity.
Despite the sisters’ upbringing in Compton, California, Richard moved the family to West Palm Beach, Florida, where they began training under Macci’s guidance in 1991. While Macci coached them until 1995, Richard gradually assumed full control of their development.
Renowned for his coaching prowess with top players like Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati, and Andy Roddick, Macci maintained a strong bond with the Williams family. Recently, he shared on X (formerly Twitter) Richard’s unique approach to cultivating success, emphasizing a deliberate facade of perceived ignorance.
“Richard Williams was so cagey smart, he always said ‘Rick I want everybody to think I’m stupid and not like me. I always told the COMPTON COMEDIAN: ‘Trust me you are on track and your fan club is right here on this court!’,” Macci wrote.