"Excuses were illegal" - Serena Williams & Venus Williams' ex-coach Rick Macci heaps praise on parents Richard & Oracene for driving duo to success

Serena Williams and Venus Williams' ex-coach Rick Macci recently put their parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price in the 'Parents' Mt. Rushmore'. He also hailed the sisters as they heeded their parents' strict life lessons.

Macci is widely regarded as one of the most prolific coaches of all time due to his impressive resume. Over the course of his coaching career, the American mentored five World No.1s including Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati, and Andy Roddick, and also coached players to 52 Grand Slam singles titles.

All these accolades helped Macci become the youngest-ever USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) Hall of Fame inductee.

The 69-year-old coached the Williams sisters briefly from 1991 to 1995 at his academy in Boca Raton, Florida. He often provides tidbits from the Williams sisters' younger days and also often explains the pivotal roles played by their parents King Richard and Oracene in making them the players they ended up becoming.

Recently, the American coach took to X (formerly Twitter) to share one such tidbit. Macci revealed that Venus and Serena Williams would never make any excuses no matter the difficulty. He said how excuses were 'illegal' in the Williams family.

The American also put Richard and Oracene in his Parents' Mt. Rushmore and also hailed the young sisters as they heeded their parents' advice, which helped them achieve their staggering success.

"They never made excuses. Excuses were illegal in the Williams family. The life lessons Richard and Oracene taught daily are on the Parents Mt. Rushmore. Even more so the two little warriors that Heard every word but even more important Listened. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams," Macci tweeted.

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"Two peas in a pod" - Rick Macci recalled how Venus and Serena Williams never fought as kids

Venus and Serena Williams (Source: Getty)

Macci also recently said how the two sisters were inseparable. He used the analog 'two peas in a pod' to describe their relationship and joked how both were 'two pea shooters' when up against each other on the court.

"They never fought as kids. Two peas in a pod. Always skipping holding hands smiling playing with dolls and stealing her food. On court always fought. Two pea shooters. Still smiling playing against the enemy but stealing points instead of food. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams," Macci posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Not only off the court, Venus and Serena Williams also shared a strong chemistry on the court. The Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slams together and also won the Olympic gold together three times (2000, 2008, and 2012)