Naturally, the career of Venus Williams is coming to an end and her childhood coach Rick Macci predicted that it can come at the 2023 US Open.
Earlier this year, Williams won her first match in 18 months, but soon she was stopped by an injury that forced her out of play until now. But recently, the 42-year-old hinted at a possible comeback, despite her father Richard saying that she can be quitting very soon.
Her childhood coach, Rick Macci, who is a seven-time USPTA national coach of the year and USPTA Florida Hall of Fame member, talked exclusively to Tennis-Infinity.com and when discussing a possible career-end of Venus, he said:
"I think it's difficult for Venus Williams. When I had Venus and Serena, it was more about Venus. Because she was older as you saw in the King Richard movie. Venus was really, really like my daughter and we had an amazing bond."
"In my opinion, and I don't have any insight, I think she'll retire at the US Open. I think that she'll play doubles with Serena. And I think they're going to exit the stage left at the US Open."
Macci emphasized that it's only his prediction, but mentioned that he believes that it will be difficult for Venus to keep on playing singles, especially because of injuries.
"I have no insight. I'm just going on my gut. Because I think with injuries and she hurt her hip in the last tournament, it's hard with the injuries. And I think she knows she's not going to win the tournament."
Despite Venus and Serena Williams both not being very active in the sport anymore, the 68-year-old coach still believes they could win tournaments if they teamed up, and given their doubles record together, it's very possible.
"But obviously if she still plays. It's good for the name. It's good for the brand. She has a platform. I get all that stuff, but I think she could still play doubles with Serena, and believe it or not, I think they could still win tournaments."
Moreover, Macci believes that with a good doubles partner, Venus Williams who is a two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion could succeed even there.
"And if she had a good mixed doubles partner, she could do damage, but singles it's tough. Then if you do win a match, you got to play the next day. So it's a little, a little tricky. But if she wants to keep playing, that's totally up to her. But I love VW."
Macci also talked about how the two sisters changed not just the sport, but also the lives of people in the communities. The legendary sisters grew up in Compton, California and Macci referenced that too.
"But what they have done, not for just the sport of tennis and for the African-American community, but just life in general. Look where they came from. They weren't in the front row or the back row."
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