Serena Williams' childhood coach tells hilarious annecdote from when Serena was 10

• Tennis News
• Serena Williams

Coach Rick Macci reveals a 10-year-old Serena Williams used to constantly tell him she would be No 1 one day. Macci, who famously coached Serena and Venus during their childhoods, would reply to Serena by telling her she wasn't even No 1 in her house.

At the time, Venus was a year and a half older than Serena and more developed. On February 1st, 2002, Venus became the world No 1. A few months later on July 1st, 2002, Serena reached the top spot - where spent a total of 319 weeks during her career.

"The NUMBER ONE thing @Serenawilliams always chirped even at age ten was Rick I will be number One. I would say you can but right now your only number TWO in your in your own bedroom! @Venuseswilliams," Macci wrote on X.

The NUMBER ONE thing @Serenawilliams Always chirped even at age ten was Rick I will be number One.

I would say you Can but right now your only number TWO in your in your own bedroom! @Venuseswilliams — Rick Macci (@RickMacci) September 14, 2023

The Williams sisters received a special tribute from Coco Gauff

At this past US Open, 19-year-old Gauff became a Grand Slam champion.

Moments after winning the title, Gauff said the Williams sisters made this possible. “Yes, it's crazy. I mean, they're the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest. They have allowed me to believe in this dream, you know, growing up.

You know, there wasn't too many just Black tennis players dominating the sport. It was literally, at that time when I was younger, it was just them that I can remember. Obviously, more came because of their legacy. So it made the dream more believable.

But all the things that they had to go through, they made it easier for someone like me to do this. I mean, you look back at the history with Indian Wells, with Serena, all she had to go through, Venus fighting for equal pay.

Yeah, it's just, like, it's crazy and it's an honor to be in that kind of lineup as them. And I'm looking at it, and she's won this a lot of times. (laughter)," Gauff said.