Richard Williams used to tell this to Serena Williams, Venus Williams every day

Coach Rick Macci reveals Richard Williams used to daily remind his daughters Serena and Venus Williams to “smile.” After being contacted by Richard Williams, Macci accepted to become the childhood coach of Serena and Venus.

Macci ended up working with the Williams sisters for four years and many believe he played a very important part in the early development of the now two American tennis icons. “The Number One Gold Nugget Richard Williams would say Every Single Day to @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams and why I love The King Compton Crusader and that was to Smile.

GOAT FATHER,” Macci wrote on X.

The Number One Gold Nugget Richard Williams would say Every Single Day to @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams and why I love The King Compton Crusader and that was to Smile. GOAT FATHER. — Rick Macci (@RickMacci) December 8, 2023

How Macci started working with the Williams sisters?

Throughout his coaching career, Macci had a chance to be the childhood coach of some of the players who went on to become great players and champions.

In 1991, someone told Macci that there was an extremely talented girl by the name of Venus Williams who made The New York Times headlines. “One thing led to another and an agent from Advantage International said, ‘Mr. Williams is going to give you a call because they are eventually looking to move from California to Florida to come to a tennis academy.’

I said, ‘OK, give me a call.’ A couple weekends passed and Richard Williams ended up giving me a call, probably one of the most bizarre and interesting conversations I ever had in my life. We started talking and he explained to me where they’re at, and so on and so forth, and he wanted to know if I wanted to come out to Compton and take a look at his girls.

The only thing I knew about Compton was that it was kind of a rough neighborhood back in the day. He said, ‘The only thing I can guarantee you is I won’t let you get shot!'” Macci wrote in his book “Macci Magic.” After meeting Richard Williams and speaking to him and his daughters for two hours, they had a deal. The rest is history as the Williams sisters went on to become great champions and achieve huge success in tennis.