Richard Williams has played a hugely influential role in the success of his daughters, U.S. tennis stars Serena and Venus.
Richard Williams has played a hugely influential role in the success of his daughters, U.S. tennis stars Serena and Venus.
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Venus and Serena have won 28 grand slam singles titles between them and shared 13 grand slam doubles titles, both achieving the world No. 1 ranking.
Venus and Serena have won 28 grand slam singles titles between them and shared 13 grand slam doubles titles, both achieving the world No. 1 ranking.
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From a young age, Venus and Serena were given tennis lessons in the city of Compton in Los Angeles County by their father, who was determined to produce two stars.
From a young age, Venus and Serena were given tennis lessons in the city of Compton in Los Angeles County by their father, who was determined to produce two stars.
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Richard <a target="_top" href="/newspapers?url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/08/serena-williams-still-has-tennis-history-to-make.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">is said</a> to have been watching TV when he saw a Romanian tennis player win $40,000, before deciding to learn a sport he was unfamiliar with and teach his daughters to play.
Richard is said to have been watching TV when he saw a Romanian tennis player win $40,000, before deciding to learn a sport he was unfamiliar with and teach his daughters to play.
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Richard, seen here with Venus, devised a 78-page training regime for his daughters.
Richard, seen here with Venus, devised a 78-page training regime for his daughters.
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He made them keep journals about their tennis goals and how best to achieve them.
He made them keep journals about their tennis goals and how best to achieve them.
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Richard, seen here with Venus during a practice session, instilled the motto purportedly first said by Benjamin Franklin: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
Richard, seen here with Venus during a practice session, instilled the motto purportedly first said by Benjamin Franklin: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
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In his autobiography, ''Black and White: The Way I See It,'' Richard describes how he brought ''busloads of kids from the local schools into Compton to surround the courts while Venus (pictured) and Serena practiced" to toughen them up. "I had the kids call them every curse word in the English language," he wrote.
In his autobiography, ''Black and White: The Way I See It,'' Richard describes how he brought ''busloads of kids from the local schools into Compton to surround the courts while Venus (pictured) and Serena practiced" to toughen them up. "I had the kids call them every curse word in the English language," he wrote.
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Richard's work came to fruition in 1999, when Serena first won the U.S. Open, before Venus landed the following year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles. Here, Serena celebrates her maiden grand slam triumph.
Richard's work came to fruition in 1999, when Serena first won the U.S. Open, before Venus landed the following year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles. Here, Serena celebrates her maiden grand slam triumph.
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Upon Venus' 2000 Wimbledon victory, Richard celebrated by shouting "Straight Outta Compton" (in reference to the song by controversial rap band N.W.A.) before then jumping up onto the commentary booth and embracing his daughter.
Upon Venus' 2000 Wimbledon victory, Richard celebrated by shouting "Straight Outta Compton" (in reference to the song by controversial rap band N.W.A.) before then jumping up onto the commentary booth and embracing his daughter.
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As Venus and Serena began to earn more success, Richard took a step back from their careers. Patrick Mouratoglou now coaches Serena, while Venus works with David Witt.
As Venus and Serena began to earn more success, Richard took a step back from their careers. Patrick Mouratoglou now coaches Serena, while Venus works with David Witt.
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In 2002, Richard divorced from Oracene Price -- who also helped coach the young sisters -- having married in 1980. They are still often seated together during their daughters' matches.
In 2002, Richard divorced from Oracene Price -- who also helped coach the young sisters -- having married in 1980. They are still often seated together during their daughters' matches.
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In 2010, Richard married Lakeisha Graham, having met the previous year. Their son Dylan was born in 2012. Graham is 37 years younger than her husband, and one year older than Venus.
In 2010, Richard married Lakeisha Graham, having met the previous year. Their son Dylan was born in 2012. Graham is 37 years younger than her husband, and one year older than Venus.
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