Serena Williams and Venus Williams are two of the greatest names in tennis, but both sisters have always said their success began at home. Their parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price, played a huge role in shaping their journey, from coaching them on public courts in California to supporting them through every stage of their careers. Even after Serena’s final match, she made sure to thank her parents, saying none of her achievements would have been possible without them.
How Richard Williams and Oracene Price Built the Foundation for Serena and Venus
Richard Williams first met Oracene Price at a bus stop in Los Angeles in 1979. They married the following year and welcomed Venus in June 1980 and Serena in September 1981. Both also had children from previous relationships, creating a large blended family.
The couple later divorced in 2002 after 22 years of marriage, but they remained connected through their daughters’ careers. Their family story later reached a global audience through the 2021 film King Richard, which showed the sacrifices and determination that helped Venus and Serena reach the top of the sport.
Why Richard Williams and Oracene Price Moved Their Family for Tennis
Venus and Serena started playing tennis as young girls in Compton, California. As their talent grew, Richard and Oracene decided to move the family to West Palm Beach, Florida, so the sisters could train with renowned coach Rick Macci.
Macci later told The New York Times that the parents balanced each other well. He described Oracene as the calm presence who made sure the girls enjoyed a normal childhood, while Richard constantly pushed them to improve. According to Macci, that balance became one of the biggest reasons for the sisters’ success.
During those years, Richard made several decisions that stood out. He pulled his daughters from junior tournaments, partly because of racism they experienced and partly because he wanted education to remain a priority. Even when tennis opportunities increased, schoolwork came first.
How Richard Williams and Oracene Price Supported Their Daughters On and Off the Court
Richard eventually left his job to focus entirely on coaching Venus and Serena. That decision meant Oracene became the family’s main financial support. Serena later said on Red Table Talk that her mother’s willingness to carry that responsibility helped keep the family moving forward.
Over the years, Serena has often praised Oracene’s strength and patience. After becoming a mother herself, she wrote a heartfelt letter calling her mom one of the strongest women she knew and thanking her for being a role model.
Richard also shared his life story in his 2014 memoir, Black and White: The Way I See It. More recently, Serena told The New York Times that she has even joked about having her father coach her daughter Olympia because she feels she may be “too nice” to push her the way he pushed Venus and Serena.
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