“My plan was simple: to bring two children out of the ghetto to the forefront of a white-dominated game.” This was Richard Williams’ long-term vision, revealed in his 2014 memoir, for his young daughters. Later, they would go on to become two icons in the world of tennis: 7-time major winner Venus and 23-time Slam queen Serena Williams. And who knows this vision better than the childhood coach of the Williams sister who helped them grow as tennis players, when he began training them in the early 90s. It was also the phase when father Richard decided to make a shift for a better future of his daughters. How?
Former ATP pro and tennis Hall of Famer Rick Macci, on Thursday, took to X and dropped another story from the past involving none other than ‘King Richard’. Reflecting on his zeal to provide the best-possible life to Venus and Serena, Macci touched upon the instance when Richard first arrived at the 5 star Grenelefe Resort in Florida, in 1991, with his little ones. That’s where Macci was going to train them, compared to how they practiced before. Where though?
For the uninitiated, Richard previously lived in Compton (also known as the Hood). It was an area affected by crime, gun violence, and anti-social elements. But still, he chose to stay there for a considerable time. Why? He wanted to make Venus and Serena “tough” and “give them a fighter’s mentality.” As he said, “In order to be successful you must prepare for the unexpected – and I wanted to prepare for that,” reported the CNN back in December 2015.
In Compton, the sisters went through a tough phase. Especially in terms of their tennis training. It was nothing less than a struggle. Richard used to bring used balls for their practice by collecting them from local country clubs. He then used to transport them with the help of a shopping cart. It became a routine of their training until they met Macci in Florida. But how did this experience change, Richard?
In Macci’s own words, in his post dated March 20, “The first day Richard the Compton Comedian arrived at the 5 star Grenelefe Resort in Florida and saw palm trees plush green grass and colorful landscaping oh so GOOD he did the Compton Shuffle and YELLED we are never going back to the HOOD.”
The first day Richard the Compton Comedian arrived at the 5 star Grenelefe Resort in Florida and saw palm trees plush green grass and colorful landscaping oh so GOOD he did the Compton Shuffle and YELLED we are never going back to the HOOD. @Venuseswilliams @serenawilliams
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) March 20, 2025
After nearly four years under Rick Macci’s tutelage, Richard Williams made a decisive move, withdrawing his daughters from the academy. With Venus and Serena poised to turn professional, and Venus securing a lucrative $12 million contract with Reebok, Richard took full control of their training. He constructed three tennis courts at their Florida residence, effectively becoming their sole coach. “Richard and I had ups and downs over a lot of things,” Macci told Sports Illustrated in 1999.
While Richard Williams’ coaching techniques were often labeled unorthodox, their effectiveness was undeniable. In 1999, at the age of 17, Serena Williams captured her first Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open, establishing herself as one of the youngest female major champions. The following year, Venus Williams followed suit, winning her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 20. Their dominance continued, with Venus reaching the world No. 1 singles ranking in February 2002. Serena then ascended to the top spot in July of the same year, effectively succeeding her elder sister.
Simply put, Richard had an unparalleled strength to go to any length for his daughters. Even if it meant taking a beating, owing to his protective nature. Really? Yes.
When father Richard got his teeth broken for Venus and Serena Williams’ careers
When tennis was considered as a white sport, nearly four decades ago, Venus and Serena Williams used to face endless criticism. Why? Many people believed they weren’t meant to play the racket sport. But father Richard hardly cared. He wanted them to become the best tennis players – no matter what. However, he had to face harsh reactions while taking them for training sessions. Wondering about the negative comments, the daughters once asked him, “Daddy, why do people stare at us so badly?” He simply answered, “Because they are not used to seeing such beautiful people before.”
On a different occasion, Richard even took a beating to protect them from gang members and bullies. During a training session, he was once told to leave the court alongside Venus and Serena. Being a courageous man and a determined father, he refused. What happened next?
Well, the bullies ended up breaking his nose, jaw, and some teeth as well. Later, remembering this moment in his diary, Richard wrote, “After today, history will remember the ‘toothless’ man as a monument of courage.” Then there was another such instance where his protective side emerged in public.
It happened during an interview featuring Venus, with ABC News, when she was just 14. She was talking to journalist John McKenzie, who seemed curious to know whether she was capable of defeating her opponent in an upcoming match. In her reply, the teenager said, “I know I can beat her.” However, McKenzie couldn’t believe and repeated, “You know you can beat her?” To this, she smiled and simply told him that she was very confident of her victory. But father Richard couldn’t tolerate the journalist’s antics anymore.
In the middle of a running interview, he made an unexpected intervention. While explaining his action, he 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.”
The more you read about such down-the-memory-lane instances of ‘King Richard’, you can’t help but admire him. What a man, and what a loving and protective father. Isn’t he?
The post “Never Going Back to the Hood” – King Richard’s Brutally Honest Take Sparks Venus and Serena Williams’ Former Coach to Walk Down the Memory Lane appeared first on EssentiallySports.