Venus and Serena Williams embodied “thankful hearts and champion spirits” throughout their remarkable careers. As young girls, aged 10 and 9, training under Rick Macci, they exuded gratitude and humility. Their infectious attitude and fierce competitiveness captivated Macci, who fondly recalls their endearing moments. The sisters’ journey from Compton’s public courts to global tennis icons is a testament to their enduring spirit and appreciation for their roots. With over 122 WTA titles and 30 majors between them, they remained grounded, crediting their family for instilling these values. But what were they like in the early days? The answer lies in their formative years under Macci’s guidance.
The former coach is always spilling the beans about the Williams sisters before they became legends! He’s noted moments like their late-night serve practice sessions using shopping carts filled with tennis balls or King Richard’s methods to instill courage and resilience in his daughters. Macci has seen it all. On March 18, he shared another tidbit on his X account, writing, “Every night after practice whether it was good bad or they were Mad at me or Dad the girls always said THANK YOU and a hug or fist pump.” This good-mannered nature of the Williams sisters was evident despite the trials they faced on the court.
Years later, on the grand stage courts, Serena and Venus were quite aggressive and competitive. Rick Macci affirms that this spirit was there long before they turned pro. He added, “Now the little one sometimes had a little more than normal juice on the fist pump then anticipated but another kid goat COMPETITIVE quality inside the Compton pit bull. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams” The term “pit bull” symbolizes her tenacious spirit and unyielding ambition, which contributed significantly to her success in tennis.
Every night after practice whether it was good bad or they were Mad at me or Dad the girls always said THANK YOU and a hug or fist pump. Now the little one sometimes had a little more than normal juice on the fist pump then anticipated but another kid goat COMPETITIVE quality…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) March 18, 2025
Macci often shared stories about how competitive Serena and Venus Williams were, even in everyday situations, like pushing past each other for food or wanting to be the first in line. Last year, on December 31, he shared more insights about their early days on his X account. Macci painted a vivid picture of their relentless drive, recalling, “As you evolve, you want to keep getting better. Venus and Serena, they were so competitive. If there was a piece of bread on the table, they were so competitive. So they didn’t need it like people need to know how to win and people need to know how to lose.”
It turns out that even if Macci could have tweaked their training with more biomechanics, their innate competitive fire was the real game-changer. Interestingly, Serena stood out from Venus in this area, which became a key factor in her success on court.
Rick Macci reveals what set Serena apart from Venus when they were young
Serena Williams‘ tennis career was a masterclass in determination, with her competitive edge being the ace that served her well for two decades. Her childhood coach, Rick Macci, had a front-row seat to her growth and often shared stories about how she would outdo her elder sister, Venus. In December 2023, Macci opened up in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, offering a deeper look into the sisters’ early days. He highlighted that Serena’s competitiveness was the game-changer, saying, “It was her competitiveness. It didn’t matter, if there was like a piece of chicken on the table she pushed Venus out of the way to get it. She had to be the first to take a drink. She was always like had to be first, she was so competitive.”
Macci observed that Venus was formidable, but Serena’s personality gave her an additional edge. He mentioned, “The only thing when she was a kid sometimes, she wasn’t sticking to it as Venus because Venus was more mature.” However, Serena’s competitive spirit gave her an edge both on and off the court. Her ability to stay focused and fight back from setbacks was evident in matches like her first “Serena comeback” at the Australian Open in 1998, where she won after losing the first set. Not to forget that her competitive drive also propelled her into successful ventures outside tennis!
Now that Serena has hung up her racket and Venus is on a lengthy hiatus following her knee injury at the 2023 Wimbledon, Rick Macci’s stories keep their legendary spirit alive. Fans are eagerly awaiting Venus’ potential return to the court, but one thing is certain—Macci will continue to dish out captivating tales about these tennis icons.
The post The Compton Pit Bull Fistpumps From Serena Williams Remind Former Coach of the Sweetest on Court Memories appeared first on EssentiallySports.