American tennis legend Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams have left a lasting legacy in global tennis. The Williams sisters have always shared a deep bond on and off the court. Their former coach, Rick Macci, recently revealed that even during their early training days, Serena, who was deeply attached to Venus, often followed in her footsteps.
Venus and Serena were coached by their father, Richard Williams, before he called up his close friend, Macci, in Compton, who recognized the sisters’ true potential. Subsequently, they started training with Macci after moving to West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1991.
Rick Macci Recalls How Young Serena Williams Followed Venus Everywhere
Venus started her professional journey in 1994 when she was just 14. Nearly three years later, the American made waves by reaching the 1997 US Open final, before losing to eventual champion Martina Hingis. The 44-year-old forged ahead with authority, winning seven Grand Slam titles, four Olympic gold medals, and 49 WTA singles titles.
Serena, meanwhile, followed suit and became a pro in 1995, embarking on an illustrious tennis journey. She won 23 Grand Slam titles, the most by any woman in the Open Era, four Olympic gold medals, and an overall 73 WTA singles titles. The 43-year-old stands alone in history to complete a Golden Slam in both singles and doubles across both genders.
Reflecting on their early coaching days recently, Macci shared that Serena closely followed her elder sister, whether while dancing or playing, just as her ‘shadow.’ The 70-year-old added that their unity eventually propelled them to the top of the sport.
“Serena always did exactly what Venus did. Serena was her shadow. They were skipping holding hands, playing games, and dancing. Always singing and laughing together. They were ONE and both became number ONE. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams,” he wrote on X.
Serena always did exactly what Venus did. Serena was her shadow. They were skipping holding hands playing games and dancing. Always singing and laughing together. They were ONE and both became number ONE. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci)
The 23-time Grand Slam champion drew the curtain on her illustrious career after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 US Open. Venus, however, hasn’t officially retired from the sport, though she is currently inactive.
Serena Williams Shared a Laudatory Message for Venus’ Meta Gala Look
The legendary sisters are fashion enthusiasts and have often turned heads with their unique outfits at several events. Venus recently made waves at the 2025 Met Gala with her tenniscore-inspired look. The 44-year-old exuded grace in Lacoste’s emerald green ensemble and shared her look on Instagram.
“#SuperfineStyle with my @lacoste family at the #METGala 🐊✨,” she captioned.
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Venus’ stunning appearance garnered a positive reaction from Serena, who wrote in the comments:
“Wow love these poses and this lewk”
Serena married renowned tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian in 2017, and the couple has two daughters, Olympia and Adira. Venus, meanwhile, is currently in a relationship with Italian actor Andrea Preti.