Serena Williams had a certain quality about her. Her powerful serve, which reached speeds of up to 128.6 mph, was a formidable weapon. Her aggressive baseline play also set her apart. Williams ended her career with a legacy of 73 singles titles, including 23 Grand Slam singles titles—the most in the Open Era. However, her rise to the top came with allegations about how she excelled. While there was no secret sauce to her magic on court, Rick Macci believed she had a superpower.
The childhood coach began training Serena and Venus Williams in 1991. At that time, Serena was nine years old, and Venus was ten. The sisters practiced with Macci until 1995, when their father, Richard Williams, took over their coaching entirely. From his years of watching the sisters blossom into legends, he shares his insights on their journey. Whether it’s how their father used unconventional methods to prepare them for the real world or their hunger for success, he knows it all.
On March 25, Macci took to X to share a detail about Serena that made her stand out. He wrote, “At as kid Serena already had rock solid genetic muscles on muscles. A unique rare combo of power strength and loose wires from shoulders to toes. Nobody said anything. As a pro when she started winning and flexing her greatness instead of Venus being her best friend it was MR.STEROID. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams” hinting at the doping allegations towards the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
At as kid Serena already had rock solid genetic muscles on muscles. A unique rare combo of power strength and loose wires from shoulders to toes. Nobody said anything. As a pro when she started winning and flexing her greatness instead of Venus being her best friend it was…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) March 25, 2025
For the unversed, Serena Williams has faced accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs, despite never testing positive for such substances. Critics have pointed to her muscular physique and aggressive on-court behavior as potential indicators of steroid use. Additionally, she’s also been tested for performance-enhancing drugs more than twice as often as other top American women players. Why has she been singled out?
Deadspin’s Laura Wagner explained in 2018 via NPR, “That’s the question that I put to USADA. They said that they only test within – in accordance with international standards. They would never conduct testing in an unfair way. But when I asked them, is the testing for Serena Williams because they suspect her of doping, a spokesman said absolutely not. So there isn’t a lot of clarity on why she’s being tested more than the other players.”
When asked about this, Wagner noted Serena’s response, noting “that she knows that she is getting tested all the time. She wants to cooperate with the testing. She says that she wants everybody to be tested fairly – be tested at the same frequency.” At this time, Serena was back on the court following her daughter, Olympia’s birth. Her team noted that the testing was invasive and targeted, though Serena didn’t use those exact words in a press conference. However, she did tweet about the incident.
Serena acknowledges the doping allegations toward her in 2018
In 2018, Serena Williams made a stunning comeback to tennis after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia. Despite not winning any tournaments that year, she reached the finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka, respectively. Her determination was on full display as she rose through the rankings from a starting point of 549. But amidst her triumphant return, Serena faced another challenge: frequent anti-doping tests.
By July 25, 2018, she had already been tested five times that year—far more than any other top American women’s tennis player. Serena took to social media to express her frustration about the testing frequency. “And it’s that time of the day to get ‘randomly’ drug tested and only test Serena,” she tweeted. “Out of all the players it’s been proven I’m the one getting tested the most. Discrimination? I think so. At least I’ll be keeping the sport clean.”
She followed up with another tweet, saying, “But I’m ready to do whatever it takes to have a clean sport so bring it on. I’m excited.” This wasn’t the only incident; in June, a doping control officer visited her home while she wasn’t there, leading to a “standoff.” The test was never administered, and Serena reached out to Women’s Tennis Association CEO Steve Simon for support.
Despite all the attention, her innocence and negative tests spoke louder than any speculation. Rick Macci has often praised Serena’s natural abilities, saying, “As a kid Serena had muscles on muscles. Everybody thought steroids and she lifted weights. Richard the Compton Comedian told everybody she only lifts trophies!”
This sentiment encapsulates Serena’s journey: a champion built on natural talent and hard work, not shortcuts. Her legacy continues to inspire, proving that true greatness doesn’t need any enhancements.
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