“Brainwashed to become No. 1″—Serena Williams‘ ex-coach, Rick Macci, played a vital role in putting her raw talent to use. Before her sensational performances stormed the WTA, the American coach’s relationship with her and her elder sister Venus Williams was relatively unspoken. Naturally, some moments never reached fans’ inboxes, but Macci finally decided to change that. Not only that, but Macci also revealed why Williams always stood out among other students in her academy.The Williams sisters first practiced with the American coach in 1991. He took the generational talent under his wing for four years before their father, Richard Williams, stepped in to take full charge of their coaching responsibilities in 1995. However, during that period, Macci spent countless moments training Serena. It wasn’t all work and no play. The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Master Professional always found time to plan fun activities for all the players in his Florida academy.Subsequently, Macci took to X and narrated chucklesome moments from when the 23-time Slam winner loved to play ‘Tag’ with other students. He further elaborated that Williams was his players’ most feared opponent due to her tactical finesse, enabling her to win each time. She was a natural, with a hint of instinctive talents. “Serena loved to play TAG as a kid with all the other students.”“She in my opinion was the MOST FEARED student playing tag in the History of the academy. Not because of her agility cat-like quickness or rocket speed. It was because she played with a CLOSED FIST,” he said.Serena loved to play TAG as a kid with all the other students. She in my opinion was the MOST FEARED student playing tag in the History of the academy. Not because of her agility cat like quickness or rocket speed. It was because she played with a CLOSED FIST. @serenawilliams— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) February 21, 2025For those unaware, Macci’s pivotal role in Williams’ life was also showcased in the movie ‘King Richard,’ depicting her father’s poignant journey in transforming young girls into tennis legends. Macci’s role in the biographical sports drama was led by renowned American actor Jon Bernthal.A teacher at his ‘Rick Macci Tennis Academy,’ the former coach to several high-profile tennis stars like Andy Roddick and Jennifer Capriati, among others, the American coach takes a massive interest in the sport’s latest updates. He offers his expertise in critical subjects and recently, dished out his opinion about one of the most controversial topics in tennis.Serena Williams ex-coach Rick Macci gives verdict on Jannik Sinner’s doping sagaItalian superstar Jannik Sinner at last drew the curtains on his long-drawn doping controversy on Saturday, February 15, after signing a three-month hiatus from the sport. He twice tested positive for the banned anabolic clostebol in March last year, sparking wild outrage among fans and players. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared him of all charges, allowing him to participate and win several top-tier ATP titles.But, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration (CAS) seeking a decision reversal and stressing a 1-2 year ban. The final trial of his case was set to be heard in April. However, days after defending his title at the Australian Open, Sinner came to a case agreement resolution with WADA and announced accepting a three-month ban from competitive tennis.Seeing as the timing of his suspension was such that he didn’t have to skip any Slam events, prompted the community to speak against the irregularities in the decision-making authorities. And now, Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci stepped in to deliver his honest take on the matter. He wrote on X: “Lets take a deep breath on the SINNER BAN. Rules of the game are no rules. Case by case situation. Just like a regular court of law on the when the law is broken. There are guide lines and lawyers and every time you go into a COURT even basketball it is a Jump Ball. @janniksin.”Macci, a loud voice in the sport, will likely continue to furnish fans with his intriguing insights, with hopefully more of his content coming in during the upcoming clay-court Slam, the French Open.The post “Most Feared Student” – Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Unveils Untold Childhood Stories of the 23-Time Grand Slam Champion appeared first on EssentiallySports.