Once again taking a contrarian view, Richard says theyre not going to accept the first offer they receive, although Macci, who brokered the deal, warns him that if Venus loses, the offers may dry up. As for what she did with her first tennis check, Serena told NBC News in 2020 that she put the amount in her bank to invest it over time. The sisters practiced together for the first time with Macci in 1991 and Richard took over coaching duties entirely in 1995 as he stopped sending his daughters to the academy. A move south allowed the Williams sisters' talents to blossom. How much does Venus Williams make from tennis? Heres how to watch it for free. His career as a coach spans more than 40 years. One night after practice as Richard is gathering tennis balls, they beat him mercilessly. But Macci did not play tennis at a young age alone. All rights reserved. Some people are savers instinctually. . In 2019, Serena created yet another fashion line called S by Serena that focused on sustainable clothing. Parents, hometown, and background, Who is Cicely Tyson's daughter? Within that period, he coached some of the best players in tennis, many of whom went on to dominate tennis tours and became world number one. Biography, wife, children, career, wealth. He parted ways with the Williams when Venus was 15 years old. The deal was the largest endorsement contract signed by a female athlete at the time. Brainwashed into becoming No.1: Serena Williams' childhood coach Rick Macci traces her journey from nine-years old to World No.1 I could see the burning desire, a rage' - Childhood coach Rick Macci recalls watching Serena play with dirty old balls on public courts of her violent neighbourhood. (USA TODAY) As of 2021, her net worth is estimated to be roughly $210 Million, and she is one of the richest tennis players in the world. Venus Williams coach is Eric Hechtman (2019present). Rick has coached many tennis players over the years, including Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Tommy Ho, Maria Sharapova, and Gabrielle Price. Venus career earnings stood at $40 million in 2020. Serena and Venus were raised by Macci and their father,. Who has Rick Macci coached? ", Novak Djokovic passes Rafael Nadal, matches Roger Federer, Flavia Pennetta: "Novak Djokovic is always number 1! "I'm actually doing the exact same thing as I've done since 1985I teach 4-year-olds, I teach adults, I teach the best juniors. There was something inside in these kids.". The movie King Richard will be released November 19, 2021. The coach has three daughters and a wife. George is a family man with a wife and children who live in the United States of America. *, Richard did walk away from the Nike deal but was vindicated seven months later when Reebok signed Venus to a five-year endorsement deal for a reported $12 million, an unprecedented amount for a relative newcomer. I still feel really close to my father, Serena says in the book. Antonio Bertone, the global director of brand management at the time, told The Undefeated in September 2021 that Puma tried to keep Serena as their ambassador at the time but were outbid by Nike. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . The younger of the two Williams sisters will start wearing Nike attire beginning Jan. 1. Did Richard Williams move the family from Compton so that Venus and Serena could attend Rick Macci's Tennis Academy in Florida? Venus Williams is still active on the WTA tour but is currently nursing a hamstring injury and has not set a date for her comeback. Growing up on Harmon Drive in Greenville is the reason . Ive been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people, she told Vogue at the time. Although Macci has trained many professional tennis players, he is synonymous with being the coach of Venus Williams and Serena Williams. No other player in the history of the sport has had the kind of impact that the sister duo had on the tennis world and youngsters watching around the world. Despite his incredible success and strong work ethic for decades, Macci has never wavered in his love for the sport and coaching. Nothing in tennis is more reliable than if you hit a Williams sister, within 2/3 points they coming for that ass. Unlike the film, he never had a member in his sights with the intention to shoot. (She was second of all time after Althea Gibson in the 1950s.) V ENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS may be two of the greatest sportspeople ever. He's a smart guy though. As of 2022, Macci lives in South Florida. "I have a lot of kids that try hard. All Rights Reserved. He worked closely with both their father, Richard Williams, and Ms. Price to create the foundation for the girls' careers. Growing up I wasnt the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit. There is a closeness because of what weve been through together, and a respect. Black and White: The Way I See it is described as a story about how a self-made man with an indomitable spirit made it all possible for himself and his family. Rick played tennis while young and became the top under-18 tennis player in Ohio. Even though Richard is depicted as being so protective of his family and determined to keep them off the mean streets, in fact the Williamses had the money to move out of the neighborhood. The Williams Sisters have dominated the courts for decades now. In 2004, Serena also created her own fashion line, Aneres (her name spelled backwards). They were so inspired by the success of their coach that the Williams sisters moved to Florida in 1990. 0:00. Advertisement. Venus, along with her sister Serena, are also minority owners of the Miami Dolphins. Tennis coach Rick Macci knew Venus and Serena Williams were going to be superstars before they even knew themselves. She presented the collection at New York Fashion Week in 2014. MANORCO PVT LTD 2022 | All Rights Reserved, Rihanna Disappoints Serena Williams With Her Super Bowl 2023 Half Time Performance, Coco Gauff Made a Shocking Prediction About Rihannas Super Bowl PerformanceWhichCameTrue, Rafael Nadal Does Not Believe He Will Be Able to Beat Novak Djokovicin2023, Serena Williams Nationality and Religion: What Is Serena WilliamsFaith, Serena Williams Weight Transformation: Tennis Legend Shows off IncredibleNewLook. Macci, 68, was left highly impressed with the sisters' tendency to chase down every ball. He persuades Cohen to watch the girls hit a few balls and tells the coach he wrote a 78-page plan to make them champions before they were born. Are Rick Macci and Richard Williams still friends? [5] Former Coach Rick Macci Opens Up About Being Paid For Venus and Serena Williams' King Richard Published 12/20/2021, 5:30 AM EST By Atri Bhatt 22 Jul 1992: Venus Williams receives instructions from her father Richard and coach Rick Macci in Florida. On the way home, he saw that one of the gang members who had beat him was lying dead in the street, surrounded by police cars and ambulances. Rick Macci Tennis Academy7X USPTA Tennis Coach of the Year.From three year olds to touring pros, ONLY world-class coach to teach anybody one on one timeWebsite: https://rickmacci.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickmaccitennisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RickMacciTennisAcademyTwitter: https:https://twitter.com/RickMacciRICK MACCI WEBSITE: https://rickmacci.com/netricks/NETRICXS VIDEO SERIES: https://rickmacci.com/netricks/UPLOAD STROKE ANALYSIS: https://rickmacci.com/video-lesson-rick/TAKE A VIRTUAL LESSON WITH RICK: https://rickmacci.com/virtual-tennis-lesson-with-rick-macci/ Read on for what we know about Serena Williams net worth. She loses to the world No. Film King Richard, starring Academy Awards winner Will Smith, showed how Richard made his daughters practice with different trainers for training, but basically Richard himself did what he wanted for training and physical fortification, technical and psychological of his two daughters Rick Macci trained both Serena and Venus at his academy in Florida, and despite some disagreements over training methods between him and the father of the two American stars, Macci and Richard Williams were two very good friends, as the film also points out. Rick Macci is as strong a foundation stone in Serena and Venus Williams' extraordinary careers as their father Richard Williams, if not more. And, as if the gangs and sound of gunfire werent providing enough of a hostile environment, Williams also hired school children to surround the courts to heckle Venus and Serena (not shown in the film), with the idea that the jeers would toughen the girls up. In February 2002, Venus became the first female Black tennis player in the Open Era to rank number one in singles. Photo illustration by Slate. According to Richards memoir, he did start taking a 12-gauge pump shotgun (not his gun from work) to the courts, which made the gang scatter. Richard storms over and tells him off, creating bad blood, with the gang hanging around the court menacingly. His childhood was spent in the street before getting a sponsorship from a top government official. to West Palm Beach, Florida, so she and Serena could train under Rick Macci . Then, in the late 70s, Macci played tennis at the Sinnet Indoor Tennis Club in Vineland, New Jersey. Will Smith steps out as Richard Williams, the game-changing father of legendary tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in "King Richard," which released its first trailer Wednesday . Theres a scene where my dad says Serena told Entertainment Weekly in 2021 about King Richard. My mom told me later that hes never coming back. When Venus and Serena Williams were ten and nine years old, respectively, their entire family moved from Compton, California to West Palm Beach, Florida, where Macci started training them. He rose to prominence as a master professional tennis player in the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). I had studied sports successes like Muhammad Ali and great thinkers like Malcolm X. I saw where they came from. He also told CNN, There was no place in the world that was rougher than Compton. Venus Williams is worth $95 million, which is about half of the net worth of her sister, Serena Williams. The Williams family moved to Florida primarily so that 13-year-old Venus and 12-year-old Serena could train with Macci. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. He believes that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will make a comeback. When. By keeping your mouth shut, other things open up for the better!". Half the time he wouldnt want new balls, he would use bad balls so the girls would have to run faster and bend lower, the girls coach, Rick Macci, recalled. Could a parent actually sign away a kids future earnings as an adult? In 1994, there were 252 given out. Maybe the best word to describe what Im up to is evolution. The Williams sisters were first introduced to coach Macci, who has also worked with Jennifer Capriati, Andy Roddick, and Maria Sharapova, by their father Richard Williams. I think its important for young people to really understand how to spend money including how to better self-evaluate needs and wants to make truly informed decisions versus spending from pure emotion. 561-477-9660 ABOUT RICK MACCI Rick's experience over the past 40 years in molding a player is unmatched by any teacher in the world. @Venuseswilliams) pic.twitter.com/bDGD0biQ7i, We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) November 22, 2021. Venus and Serena both turned professional at 14. They would surround the court, they wanted the girls to do well, former Compton City Councilwoman Patricia Moore said. Wasnt exactly Center Court at Roland Garros, but it was all we knew. She also writes of hearing gunfire as they played. Lovecraft Country's Aunjanue Ellis plays the Williams' sisters' mother and the teen tennis stars are played by Saniyya Sidney (Venus) and Demi Singleton (Serena). Soda cans, beer bottles, fast-food wrappers. There is an appreciation. Venus also published her first book,Come to Win; On How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession, in 2010. She made her professional debut in 1990 at 13 years and 11 months old. In 2013, he wrote Macci Madness: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others. Other people spend instinctually. As for what she does splurge on, Venus confessed, I love jewelry.I go splurge on that occasionally.. One thing Im not going to do is sugarcoat this. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Serena, the daughter of Richard Williams and Oracene Price, was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan. Where Selena Gomez & Hailey Bieber's Drama Now Involves Are Joey & Kariselle Still Together From Perfect Match All 'The Bachelor' Spoilers About Zach's Winner, Who Are Chloe & Shayne Still Together From 'The Perfect As the GOAT, Serena Williams net worthand how much she makes from the Womens Tennis Association, Nike and amore brandshas been a topic of interest for decades. Read the true story behind the rise of the Williams sisters . Serenas family moved from Compton to West Palm Beach, Florida, when she was 9 years, so she and Venus could train under Rick Macci, the same tennis coach that trained players like Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova. Similar to the Williams, Macci came from a small town in the north before moving to Florida with a dream when he was around 23 years old. In 1992, she won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics and became a world No. She debuted the line at New York Fashion Week in 2012. Ive thought about some jewelry., In August 2022, Serena announced that she would be retiring from professional tennis after her last match in the 2022 US Open. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. Richard had more than one long-lost son. However, the two are still friends even in 2022. In fact, Richard pulled his daughters out of the Macci Tennis Academy about four years later when they had just become teenagers citing racism, and the Williams sisters went back to being coached by their mother and father. There are so many ways to tell this story. After playing tennis for several years, Rick founded a tennis academy in 1985 called Rick Macci International Tennis Academy. Rick Macci is a former ATP star himself, who has coached five No.1 players, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati, and the Williams sisters. But the stress of the competitive world did affect Richard and Oracene's relationship. When she was 7 years old, Tony Chesta, a local tennis player, noticed Venus talent in the sport and advised her to pursue it. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Rick Macci recently reflected on coaching Venus and Serena Williams when they were teenagers. simple answer is that the ability to keep your mouth shut is sometimes the ultimate clubhouse leader. But it is just as important to acknowledge one of the people who played an instrumental role in the iconic players' initial years. One of the biggest reveals is the sisters' relationship with their enigmatic father, coach and ultimate motivator. She debuted the line at New York Fashion Week in 2012. Recent StatementSparksRumors, I Think Its Steroids Joe Rogan Was Convinced Serena Williams Was on PEDs After She Evaded Drug Tests. However, Richard often showed up at their practise matches and even high profile . How much does Serena Williams make from Nike? Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. Criticism can bring the best out of you, he told CNN in that same interview. Shes also the current Chief Sporting Officer forAston Martin, a United Kingdom luxury automobile manufacturer, as well as serves on the board of directors forSurveyMonkey, an experienced management company now known as Momentive. Rick Macci's net worth is estimated to be in the $2 million range. The USPTA also inducted him into the Florida Hall of Fame in 2010. Please logout and login again. Venus is worth $95 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which is about half of the net worth of her sister, Serena Williams, who is worth $220 million. He kept them back from tournaments and taught them technique and to go for it., When Venus enters her first pro tournament, the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland, at 14, she receives an offer of a $3 million contract from Nike, who want to build a brand around her. Rick Macci was born on 7 December 1954 (age 67 as of 2022) in Greenville, Ohio, United States. Becker: "Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafae Nadal are icons! This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. BANG!. However, it remains unknown whether he still receives the cut. Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that 7-time Grand Slam champion "should have won", Be the first one to comment on this story. I still feel really close to my father, Serena says in the book. But I think telling it through my dad was the best way because he had the idea. She has five half-sisters Yetunde, Lyndrea and Isha Price, and one full older sister, Venus Williams. Bernthal fought hard to play Rick Macci, the legendary tennis coach of the Williams sisters, and came to appreciate Macci's sincere love for the game and the Williams family, as well as. My family wasnt wealthy, but we were always taught that when you work hard, you reap the benefits as a result, she said. Macci brought the family to Florida, gave the sisters lessons and Richard a job, condo and motorhome and believed in three things Venus and Serena Williams, and Rick Macci. Its incredible to see how the conversations around equal pay have evolved over the yearsits a global issue that has finally become a global movement, she said. Richard said he wasnt going to do anything right then, Williams lawyer Keven Davis, who actually brokered the Nike deal, recalled. In 2010, she also launched her own nail company called HairTech. In an interview with NBC News in 2020, Serena Williams opened up about what its like to be a millionaire after growing up with not much money. After decades of a colorfully decorated coaching career and being inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame, Macci summed it all up with just five words that describe it best: "Love, passion, consistency, dedication and persistence." ", Maria Sharapova on how to build strong brand: Be smart with people you align with, Miami TD James Blake compares 'incredible story' Emma Raducanu to Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic on 2019 Wimbledon final: Statistically, Roger Federer was better, Stefanos Tsitsipas shocked by the train tragedy in Greece, ATP Dubai: Novak Djokovic falls to Daniil Medvedev and suffers first loss. Rick Macci Tennis 18.6K subscribers 352K views 1 year ago USPTA Hall of Fame Tennis coach Rick Macci shares his perspective on meeting and coaching Venus and Serena Williams in the early. Your login session has expired. By Richards own admission, some neighbors did call child protective services on the grounds that the Williamses were making Venus and Serena practice tennis for too long and spend too much time studying. Macci also helped the other Williams sisters to become successful, as well, including Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, and Jennifer Capriati. Im not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. Tuko.co.ke published a post about George Wajackoyah's education, background, career, and family. He has become very rich. Rick Macci Dishes on the Williams Family Stories 'King Richard' Left Out When you see a based on a true story movie like King Richard which follows Richard Williams's journey raising his. On this day, eight-year-old Bella is slamming cross-court forehands with ease. "For example, the way I teach the ATP forehandwe have kind of revolutionized really what the guys on the tour doand I have pretty much been the worldwide leader in this area. Did Miles and Karen from Married At First Sight divorce? Macci also provided the Williams family with an $80,000 Winnebago motor home, furniture, food, and a place on the payroll for Richard at his academy - all of which Rick paid for himself. Rick Macci is a 67-year-old former American player and a highly successful tennis coach who has trained top players like Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova, and the Williams. Is Rick Macci an author? And so thats why I went to Compton with them., [Read: King Richard Turns Venus and Serenas Triumph Into Their Dads]. (???? Yet the 66-year-old is still just as busy now as he was in the 1990's training the sisters. It comes up, I get an uncomfortable lump in my throat, and I start to cry. I love it.". Along with Nike, Serena has also had endorsement deals with brands likeGatorade, Delta Air Lines, Pepsi, Beats by Dre headphones, Chase Bank, OPI Products, Intel, and more. Pairing up in women's doubles tournaments, the Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam events and on one occasion they won 4 consecutively, but not in the same calendar year. Cleophas Malala to Hold Massive Rally, Open UDA Offices in Kisumu: "Dala Tunakuja", Raila vs Ruto: Cleophas Malalah Receives Heroic Reception in Kisumu ahead of UDA Mass Membership Drive, Naivasha Court Sentences Woman to Life Imprisonment for Killing Her 4 Kids, Who Wore it Better? Rick Macci, the tennis legend, met the Williams sisters on the red carpet at King Richard. Macci (along with everyone else) objects strenuously but Richard stands his ground, telling the coach, Theyre going to be kids., Williams did indeed make this bold move. Instead, she put it in the bank. 'Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic went over the edge,' says Patrick Mouratoglou, Novak Djokovic counts to 1250 and moves closer to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic: Probably no Serbia Open in 2024, Ion Tiriac wants his licence back, ATP Acapulco: Taro Daniel scores first top-10 win despite beating Novak Djokovic, ATP Dubai: Lorenzo Sonego keeps Rafael Nadal in top-10, Andy Murray responds to Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek praise: Lot of respect for them. Williams was known for his unconventional approach to building the sisters careersfor example by taking them off the junior circuit and not letting them play matches until they turned proready to challenge the coaches advice whether on shot technique or sneaker endorsements. Image: Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection. Venus net worth also includes her own fashion line, EleVen, which she launched in 2007 with Steve & Barrys. In addition to the Williams sisters, he coached Jennifer Capriati, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova. It has been almost 30 years since Rick Macci coached Serena and Venus Williams to greatness. "The Rick Macci Tennis Academy is pretty much the crown jewel of Palm Beach Countythe place looks like Disneyland and Candyland. Who's Still Together From 'The Perfect Match'? Venus spent her first three years in sleepy Long Beach, California before Richard deliberately moved the family to Compton, over the objections of his wife, because he believed the tough environment would give the girls a fighters mentality. The father corrected him that there are going to be two, referring to both sisters. Professional tennis players and fans will tell you that Rick Macci is arguably the best coach tennis has ever seen. Although they have remained on good terms with each other, Macci, who says that both Serena and Venus are like his daughters, did not train them after 1995. When did Rick Macci part ways with the Williams? USPTA Hall of Fame Tennis coach Rick Macci shares his perspective on meeting and coaching Venus and Serena Williams in the early 90's in this exclusive interview. I am working on it. Macci said he saw Richard Williams, now 80, at his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., about three months ago and received a visit from him with a documentary crew about a month ago at his tennis. Who is Lisa Christoffersen from Real Housewives of Nairobi? Rick makes a career as an American tennis teacher. When I sat down with Macci, he seemed relaxed and filled with good spirits despite his heavy work schedule. Shes also the current Chief Sporting Officer for Aston Martin, a United Kingdom luxury automobile manufacturer, as well as serves on the board of directors for SurveyMoney, an experience management company now known as Momentiv. According to the WTA, Serena has made $94,518,971 in prize money as of November 2021, which makes her the first rank in all-time earnings. Then, at age 15, Venus landed a $12 million contract with Reebok. We got prize money tournaments, there are many pros, people can rent a court for $5the place is rocking and rolling every day," he said. BLAIR: That's the real Rick Macci. Everything has changed and any parent, coach, or teacher who isn't evolving every single day, they're really doing a disservice to the general public, teaching the game of tennis. I am the most boring spending ever, she said. Beaming with positivity and excitement to get back on the court, it's inspiring to see the result of these five words come to life through Macci. Photos by Al Bello/Getty Images and Warner Bros. Vacillating Wildly From Dispiriting to Exhilarating, the early favorite for this years Best Actor Oscar, They would surround the court, they wanted the girls to do well, What led me to Compton was my belief that the greatest champions came out of the Ghetto,, The ghetto will make you rough, itll make you tough, itll make you strong, prompting him to tell his wife Oracene Brandy Williams. But since he started coaching, Macci has coached many tennis players, some of whom have been World Number 1s, including Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, and Jennifer Capriati. Furthermore, he is the founder of one of the world's best tennis academies. Theres no doubt that Venus and Serena are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. ", 25 years later #BANG pic.twitter.com/rZil0K9y2m. He proved us all wrong., Richard tells Macci that the girls education comes first and that Venus speaks four languages because Venus dont want to be broke., While in junior high, Williams, a straight-A student, studied French and German, later learning Italian, which in 2019 she described as my best language, adding the surprising language that I know a decent amount of is Chinese.. Weeds poking through. I didnt learn those things until later in my career. She continued, However, as I matured. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport He is not Venus Williams coach. What led me to Compton was my belief that the greatest champions came out of the Ghetto, he wrote. As in the film, the investigation came to nothing when the girls stoutly defended their parents, who pointed out they were keeping the girls immersed in training to keep them too busy to be tempted by the neighborhoods less virtuous activities. He is also a Master's Professional in the US Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). Macci's role was played by Jon Bernthal. But what is Venus Williams net worth and how does it compare to her younger sister, Serena? In 1988, Ho became the youngest male player in the open era to play in the main draw of the US Open singles at the age of 15 years and two months. Correction, Nov. 22, 2021: This article originally misstated that Venus Williams makes it to the final of the Bank of the West Classic before losing to the world No. When they couldn't reach an. Read on for what we know about Venus Williams net worth and how much shes made in her tennis career. I went to a court just with a ball and a racket and with hope. Serena Williams. Share. Theyre going to be tennis players. He has also said that, because at first Brandy wasnt on board with the program, he plied her with romantic dinners and, less charmingly, hid her birth-control pills. Who's Still Together From 'The Perfect Match'? A year later, she wrote an op-ed in the London Times that became crucial to bringing pay parity at Wimbledon. Pay disparity is just one element of the overarching issue of inequality, which so many people are too familiar with. She continued, I will be really happy when the differences between men and women dont have to be a discussion anymore, and everyone is loved and respected for the person they are.. As part of her contract with Nike, Williams served as the brands face for their clothing, apparel, and footwear. pic.twitter.com/kE2PDwUerV, Casey Schnabel (@CaseyTennis) November 25, 2021. My answer is in doubles for sure with the one she has been skipping and holding hands with since age 9. Along with the $42 million shes made in tennis prize money, Venus net worth also includes the money shes made as to the Chief Executive Officer of her own interior design firm, V Starr Interiors, which has designed sets of talk shows like theTavis Smiley Show, as well as businesses and residences in Palm Beach, Florida. Yes, Rick Macci did get paid for coaching the Williams sisters. Richard storms over and tells him off, creating bad blood, with the gang hanging around . "The footwork got better, everything changed once I said game on. USPTA is one of the worlds oldest and largest associations of tennis-teaching professionals. However, its focus is not the two sisters but their father, Richard Williams (portrayed by Will Smith in a performance thats made him the early favorite for this years Best Actor Oscar), who armed only with unshakeable determination, a firm belief in his familys destiny, and a bucketload of motivational slogans, brought his daughters from the run-down courts of Compton to domination of the junior tournament circuit, fighting race-based preconceptions in the overwhelmingly white world of tennis the whole way. He'll make it on his paltry 4 or 5 million. He knew how to do it, she said. In 2002, they divorced after 22 years. Serena Williams Height: Is She Taller Than VenusWilliams? Macci first starting coaching Venus Williams in 1990 and then both of the Williams sisters worked with Macci during the 1990s. Macci feels that Serena Williams will certainly return to team up with her older sister Venus for some doubles matches.