Serena Williams - Related Biography: Father/coach Richard Williams

The biggest booster of Serena and Venus Williams is their father, who has also served as their coach and manager from the very beginning of their tennis careers. In fact, it's doubtful either Williams sister would be playing tennis at all were it not for Richard Williams' fervent belief that he could raise his daughters to be champions on the court. Working with the three older sisters of Venus and Serena, Williams had had little success, but his two youngest girls took to the game from the start.

Despite his undeniable success in coaxing and coaching Venus and Serena to positions of dominance in the sport, Williams continues to come under fire for some of his unorthodox techniques but mostly for what he has to say about his perceptions of racism and the stuffiness of the people who run the game. He also shows no lack of confidence in his ability to guide his daughters to tennis stardom. He admitted however, to Kevin Chappell of Ebony that sometimes the criticism hurts. "When people criticize you, I don't care how much you say it doesn't bother you, it does. It bothers you when people criticize you, especially when you're doing the best that you can do. Because once you are doing the best you can do, you realize there is nothing else you can do. They are criticizing you, and you can't fight back, you can't make a noise. It's almost like someone has beaten you dead. It's somewhat disturbing."

When Serena, his younger daughter with former wife Oracene, was still quite young, Williams moved his family from Saginaw, Michigan, to the dicey neighborhoods of Compton, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. He taught his girls the game on the public tennis courts of Compton, an area so riddled with gang violence that the girls had to be schooled in how to dodge errant bullets. In 1991, he sent Serena and Venus off to Florida to train at the tennis academy of Ric Macci in Delray Beach. Both girls turned professional by the age of 14 and have been guided by their father through every step of their careers.

Citing this material

Please include a link to this page if you have found this material useful for research or writing a related article. Content on this website is from high-quality, licensed material originally published in print form. You can always be sure you're reading unbiased, factual, and accurate information.

Highlight the text below, right-click, and select “copy”. Paste the link into your website, email, or any other HTML document.

User Comments Add a comment…

6 months ago

Delores White » dapowell3 ((at)) comcast dot net

When you and your family lived in Cedar Grove section of Shreveport, LA you all attended the 80th Street Church of God In Christ, pastored by Elder L. H. White, in Cedar Grove and I am one of his daughters. I learned that on one of your visits to Shreveport, you tried to contact us, the children of my father and was told bu someone that they didn't know how to locate us. You may contact me and my family at the above e-mail. We would like to hear from you.

7 months ago

Percy & Shirlean Jones » percyjonesjr ((at)) bellsouth dot net

Mr. Williams i meet you about 14 years ago and you have remain to be a very special friend and a very special person. I have seen you and your daughters grow and become great american leading the way for others.

My wife and i wish you, Venus & Serena all the best in all you do

Thank God for your family

Percy & Shirlean Jones, Atlanta, GA

9 months ago

adebayo king » quadrisalau ((at)) yahoo dot co dot uk

hi, handsome richard u are the best dad in d world, i really appreciate yur effort 4 takin care of yur kids right from d begginnin 2 dis stage of life.May GOD ALMIGHTY GOD reward u abundantly, and b happy that GOD gave u d opportunity of takin care of d kids so give THANKS & PRAISE 2 GOD always.

over 2 years ago

Edna Dharmaratne » mum_dharmaratne ((at)) yahoo dot ca

You have raised two wonderful atheletes and two well-balanced young women with a diversity of interests besides tennis. They are articulate, caring and it is refreshing to see their love for each other as siblings. Great Work!

over 2 years ago

Chuck Daniels » chamoss ((at)) msn dot com

Dear Mr. Richard Williams,

I am very proud of you for the way you help guide your daughters to success. I feel if more parents no matter the race would follow your model. We would have a better society. I know you have been criticized and lambasted for your honesty and frankness about racism in our society. However, it's true.

We live in a society where some people hate to hear the real truth. Yes, in 2007 there are still a lot of racism. It never surface as much because most of the victims never overcome as you and your daughters have done.

I am so proud to say, you are my role model for parenting and fatherhood. I pray that some day I get to meet you and shake your hand.

Keep up the great work. You and Joe Jackson did it the right way. If it was left up to White America's way; you would be picking cotton in Shreveport and Joe Jackson would be sweeping floors at a steel mill somewhere in Indiana.

I must say you as well as Joe Jackson should be in the Hall of Fame for parenting.

Sincerely,

Chuck Daniel
chamoss@msn.com
206-723-6602