In an interview recently, renowned coach Rick Macci, who had previously coached the two Williams sisters, shared an unexplored story about Serena Williams.
The American tennis coach and a former professional player, Rick, was back in the trend after the movie King Richard was released in November of the last year. The movie is based on Richard Williams and his two daughters, Venus and Serena and their journey together to script history in the game of tennis.
As he spoke about some great stories included in the King Richard movie, the interviewer asked Rick Macci to share some other stories that the viewers have not seen or read about.
Sharing his first story, Rick mentions that it had to be in the movie and that he has already told it multiple times. “It was July 1992. I was on the court with Serena and Venus next door, they’re always side by side,” coach Macci started the story adding that Richard, the sisters’ father wasn’t present at the time and Serena was 11 years old.
“She’s just standing there running the clock out. She’s 11 years old, gotta remember,” the coach continues saying that he calls Serena meek because her middle name is Jameka.
Rick continued with the story– “I said Meek, you gotta move your feet. She goes ‘why?’ I said ‘what do you mean why? you said you wanted to be No.1.’ She goes ‘I will be No.1’ and she gave me that look.” Macci mentions that people know about that look as they would have seen it at the US open, except then she’d have a racquet in her hand.
“I go ‘how can I get you to move your feet?’. She goes ‘Rick, I’m really really hungry. Can you have Scott go to the snack machine. I want some of those hot curly fries, a Snickers bar, a Pepsi. And on the way to work today, daddy drove by a stand on the corner of Linton Boulevard and they were selling green day T-shirts. Can you have Scott pick up one of those T-shirts. And if you see that girl on the court next, that tall skinny girl.’ She was talking about Venus”- added Rick Macci.
He went on saying that Serena told “I’ll make her look slower than molasses”, referring to her sister. Rick confirmed with Serena Williams, that she’s going to move her feet if Scott got her the list of things.
Serena ‘s goodies boosts her performance on court
As the ‘goodies’ were delivered, and the green day T-shirt was set to be given the next day, Serena binged on the snack. After 15 minutes of snack break, Meek went back on court with her hitting partner. “For one hour straight, no water, pop in the popcorn, extra butter, sweat is coming of this kid like Niagara falls. Ripping ground strokes, cross court, down the line, just like a maniac,” Rick described Serena Williams ‘ performance.
When Macci had moved on to the court with Venus on it, Serena told him- “Hey Rick, you better have that green day T-shirt in the morning.”
Rick describes that quality and tone as confidence rather than cocky or arrogant. He calls her a ‘little Pitbull’ that he and Richard Williams saw early on and before she grew professionally.
