Serena Williams proved that nothing in the world can stop a person if there is determination. The 23-time Grand Slam champion broke several stereotypes in tennis. She broke the ‘only rich can play tennis’ school of thought and built her empire from almost nothing. The credit for her being such a strong-willed person goes to her father.

Richard Williams not only shaped her raw talent but also gave her the confidence to never abandon her roots. He taught her to hold her head high and face challenges head-on. Speaking of which, here’s a way through which he instilled such things in his children’s minds. 

Richard’s unique way of guiding his children

Recently, in an interview, Isha Price spoke about methods Richard adopted to teach them an important life lesson. “Daddy never painted the front of the house and I couldn’t understand,” she shared in a podcast. 

“I was older. Finally, I asked him directly, and he said that this will help you to be strong. Doesn’t matter what people say about you, what they say about your house. You should be proud of where you come from no matter where that is because where you come from is really within you.”

“So it lesson behind everything,” she concluded. Richard’s coaching style was unique. The coach of five World no.1s, Rick Macci, who worked in collaboration with him, often praises him for following a path that didn’t pressure his girls. 

Read more: ‘Solving All My Life’s Problems’ – Serena Williams Acclaimed Prince Harry Recently for Being the Guiding Light in Her Career

Richard did his best to protect Serena from falling into the traps of agencies. Also, he kept her away from the hectic and demanding schedule of junior tennis. He aimed for WTA and focused on training the former World no.1 for the same rather than putting her skills to test at a very young age. 

Serena Williams, after her emotional retirement

The seven-time Wimbledon champion, after making a comeback in London, decided to evolve away from the sport. She stepped into the second phase of her life, following the US Open.

Watch this story: Rise of a superstar – Iga Swiatek’s victorious moments on the WTA tour

Serena will now focus on spending time and building memories with her family. Other than that, she will also have her eyes on expanding her reach in the business and investment sector. She runs the clothing brand ‘S by Serena’ and is the owner of the investment firm ‘Serena Ventures’. She has been making efforts towards furthering her company’s grip on the market by investing in businesses that are founded by women and people from minority communities.