The US celebrated Father’s Day on Sunday with a lot fanfare. Many names from the tennis world additionally put up particular posts for his or her fathers on social media, showcasing the position they’ve performed of their lives. Serena Williams and Venus Williams will all the time stay indebted to Richard Williams for instilling in them perception in addition to backing them with assets to make it large in tennis. And who is healthier than Rick Macci, their childhood coach, to speak about Richard?
In an unique interview with The SportsRush, Macci spoke in regards to the extreme involvement of fathers in creating tennis gamers, protecting a coach’s perspective in thoughts. The Florida-based legendary coach began his response by giving examples of his different star pupils like Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova, Mary Pierce, and Sofia Kenin earlier than stating that all of them have the passionate father think about widespread.
Rick Macci additionally cited the examples of Steffi Graf and among the many males, Ben Shelton, who’ve had their fathers’ assist all through. Macci was quoted as saying –
“No one can reply this higher than Rick Macci. Let’s again the truck as much as Jennifer Capriati, Stefano was right here. Jim Pierce, Mary’s dad was there. (Maria) Sharapova, Yuri was there. Steffi Graf, her dad was concerned.
“It may be a bonus, as we’ve got seen with Sofia Kenin. Her dad was concerned, then it type of blew up a bit of bit, he was out however now he’s again in. It’s all particular person with every participant and state of affairs.
“In terms of Ben Shelton, his father Bryan who I do know. He bought to the quarterfinals of the US Open as soon as and has been the previous coach for College of Florida. So he’s an enormous affect.”
Nonetheless, Macci additionally warned that in attempting to assist their children obtain their targets, dad and mom may push them extraordinarily onerous after getting blinded by the temptations of fast outcomes, success, and cash, which may find yourself destroying their children’ careers ultimately. And that’s one thing Richard Williams understood completely, which was additionally echoed by Serena and Venus in a Harper’s Bazaar interview back in 2022.
In keeping with Rick Macci, that is what made Richard stand out from each different tennis mother or father he is aware of.
“It might lower each methods. Many fathers don’t realise that their children are children first and tennis gamers second and that’s how they’ll mess up their probabilities.
“Their hearts are in the correct place out of affection however they get blinded by stardom, cash no matter, so that they bought to watch out. That’s why I really like Richard Williams, he was extra of a psychologist, a mother or father like none different, he handled them like children as a result of he knew they had been solely going to be children as soon as,” Macci informed The SportsRush.
This a part of Richard Williams was highlighted extraordinarily properly within the 2021 movie King Richard. Regardless of not being that properly off, Richard by no means needed Serena Williams and Venus Williams to climb up too excessive too quickly that they neglect that they’re kids who’ve a protracted option to go in life.
Regardless of having confronted a lot criticism, typically even from Rick Macci himself, Richard Williams caught to his weapons, and his grasp plan labored. It performed an enormous position in guaranteeing that Serena and Venus didn’t get caught within the trappings of stardom, as an alternative making them perceive how you can go about their journeys with extra knowledge.
Throughout the identical interview, Macci even opened up extra about his relations with Richard and had some fascinating issues to say.
Rick Macci claims no person loves Richard Williams greater than him
Within the movie, it was proven that Macci and Richard didn’t agree with most issues they mentioned to one another. Each have sturdy personalities and have their very own visions to assist Serena and Venus develop. This made Macci admit that it was troublesome to deal with Richard greater than Serena and Venus.
“Richard was my finest pal. I inform individuals I needs to be within the Corridor of Fame simply because I handled that man for 4 years. It was brutal at occasions. However I used to be in it for the women,” Macci continued.
Ultimately, Rick Macci used all his interpersonal expertise and maturity to not intrude with Richard Williams’ selections. On the identical time, Richard too knew that he needed to let Serena Williams and Venus Williams develop organically. So this partnership labored wonders and it made Macci have immense respect for his or her father.
“Nobody loves Richard Williams greater than Rick Macci. We nearly speak on a regular basis even at this time. He’s 82, an awesome man.
“Mother and father need to watch out and perceive that success shouldn’t be a straight shot. They need to know when to again off however most of them don’t as a result of they want to management. Those that made it large, should be given plenty of credit score,” the award-winning coach concluded.
That is golden recommendation for all dad and mom who want that their kids develop into profitable, skilled tennis gamers. In addition to, a father performs maybe the most important position, which is of a selfless chief to information them in the correct route. Serena Williams and Venus Williams bought fortunate certainly with an excellent coach and father aside from their very own willpower and energy, the last word recipe for fulfillment.
