Roommates, you can’t talk about Venus and Serena Williams without mentioning their dad, Richard Williams. The self-taught tennis player was instrumental in developing his daughter’s talents at a young age and helping turn them into tennis legends.
Now 75, Mr. Williams is being recognized by the American Tennis Association for his role in coaching the sisters from straight outta Compton to greatness.
For nearly 20 years, Venus and Serena have dominated women’s tennis with their #BlackGirlMagic. Both have been ranked at the world No. 1 position in singles and doubles and have won 14 Grand Slam titles together as doubles partners.
He will be the first inductee into the ATA’s new Hall of Fame at the ATA Tennis and Education Complex in South Florida.
Williams will be recognized during the ATA’s 100th-anniversary celebration at the 2017 Honors Gala on August 2, according to TennisConnected.com.
The association is the oldest African-American sports organization in the U.S. It was created 100 years ago in response to the barring of African-American tennis players by the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association.
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