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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Serena Williams of the United States cools down between sets during her Ladies’ Singles fourth round match against Evgeniya Rodina of Russia on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 9, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Serena Williams of the United States cools down between sets during her Ladies’ Singles fourth round match against Evgeniya Rodina of Russia on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 9, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Legendary Coach Rick Macci has coached a lot of big tennis stars throughout his career. He has helped build stars like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Maria Sharapova. Moreover, Andy Roddick and Jennifer Capriati, who have both been formerly World No. 1, were Macci’s students as well.
In a recent interview, the legendary coach was asked to build his perfect player. Thus, taking individual qualities from tennis greats, Macci then created the perfect player.
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In an interview with professional coach Kamau Murrey, Rick Macci talked at length about the sport and his former students. Towards the end of the interview, as a parting question, Kamau asked Macci to build his perfect player.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 17: Serena Williams of the United States plays a shot in her first-round match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day two of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 17, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Then, Macci began immediately with the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer. “Federer’s forehand- I like his grip, he gets a tighter spin,” Macci described.
For the backhand of his perfect player, the 67-year-old coach went to World No.1 Novak Djokovic. “Djokovic’s backhand is optimal,” he said. “He pulls in with right, pushes with the left.”
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“you can’t argue with Djokovic. Because of the way his consistency and staying up there have very few speed bumps.”
“It looks like Novak, right now.” (video)https://t.co/GtdmTBHrnx— C Kristjánsdóttir ●🐊 (@CristinaNcl) December 9, 2021
It was then that Macci described the most important aspect of all. “The inner quality of Serena (Williams). To this day, Meek (Serena Williams) probably thinks she’s undefeated in her own way! It’s a way you play this game within the game, in your own mind,” Macci said.
Macci has, on more than one occasion, praised the mentality that Serena Williams has always had. He even described Venus and Serena Williams as kids who were never intimidated by anything at all.
Macci’s perfect player has Roddick’s serve and Venus’ strides
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Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams of the U.S hold their trophies after winning the women’s doubles final against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazahkstan and Timea Babos of Hungary on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Moreover, Macci’s perfect player serves like his former student Andy Roddick. “Roddick’s serve because of the way it’s synchronized from the ground up,” Macci explained.
However, Serena Williams is not the only Williams sister in his perfect player’s qualities. Macci then described Venus Williams and her agility. “Obviously, the movement of Venus. No one can go from A to B like Venus… No one’s ever been able to hit on the run like Venus. That would be my ultimate player.”
Undoubtedly, Rick Macci’s ultimate player would be an absolute force to reckon with! What would you pick from different players to build your perfect tennis athlete?
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