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© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Coach Rick Macci says Serena Williams’ enormous potential was evident from Day 1 but also reveals it took Serena longer to mature than Venus Williams. After being contacted by Richard Williams, Macci agreed to coach the Williams sisters in their childhood.
From Day 1, Macci realized that he was given a chance to work with very special talents. Venus, who is 15 months older than Serena, seemingly never questioned coach Macci’s instructions but Serena did at times. “When she was 11, people would look at me like ‘What’s that mean?’ and I said ‘That just means championship quality at the highest level on top of everything.’
I could see this at a young age but mentally as a kid, she wasn’t like Venus. It took longer [than Venus] for her to mature. I’d say ‘Run!’. , she’d go ‘Why?’ Sometimes it would be those conversations.
I liked how she was wired so that’s the wildcard,” Macci said on the Match Point Canada podcast.
Coach Macci on Serena Williams’ Grand Slam numbers
After winning her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open, it seemed that Williams would definitely beat Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Slams.
In the next few years, Williams made four more Grand Slam finals – but lost every time. Reflecting on Williams’ Grand Slam success, coach Macci thinks she could have easily won a lot more if not for some injuries. “Serena could have had 30 Grand Slams if she would’ve played all the tournaments, wouldn’t have taken time off, wouldn’t have injuries but I think that’s irrelevant.
People don’t realize how good Serena was. She checked every box and she added a few more,” Macci said. Williams, who is now 42 years old, delivered her second child this year as the talks of the American tennis icon possibly returning to pro tennis have cooled off in recent months.
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