"As kids, Serena and Venus were already machines," Rick Macci's confessions about the Williams sisters' early days

Legendary coach of the Williams sisters, Rick Macci doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing his opinions, whether good or bad. Active on social media, the 70-year-old doesn’t hesitate to share his insights and anecdotes about his former students.

"As kids, their best friend was 'Mr. Snack Machine.' They competed with him every day. They had my keys to search and destroy. And both of them had an unreal thirst for competition. At 11 years old, when asked who she wanted to be like when she grew up, Serena answered, 'the confident Compton Crusher.' A sharp response, worthy of a little pitbull.

I want people to play like me! Wow! An incredible kid simmering in that Compton furnace. The key to mental strength in competition is never giving up. Never backing down. The mind controls the body. But you control your mind. You control the situation—don’t let it control you. The choice. The hardest thing in sports and in life."

His words echo Venus Williams' victory in the first round of Washington. At 45 years old, she delivered a historic performance by defeating her compatriot Stearns (6-3, 6-4).