In the popular film *King Richard*, Will Smith’s portrayal of Richard Williams captivated audiences and earned him both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.

However, the real-life figure of Richard Williams, father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, is even more complex than the character depicted in the movie.

The Birth of Two Legends

In 1978, while watching Virginia Ruzici win the French Open and earn over $20,000 in prize money, Richard Williams turned to his wife Oracene with a bold proposal: they would have more children and raise them to be tennis champions.

Although Oracene initially resisted, Richard’s determination was relentless. He even admitted to hiding her birth control pills, a controversial step that eventually led to the birth of Venus and later Serena.

When Venus was born in 1980, the family lived in a comfortable home in Long Beach, California. But Richard soon moved the family to Compton, an area of Los Angeles notorious for gang activity.

He believed that exposing his daughters to a challenging environment would instill a “warrior’s mindset.” Despite Oracene’s fears, Richard was adamant, arguing that learning to play amid gang members would toughen his daughters for life in the professional sports world.

A Rigorous Upbringing

Richard’s parenting methods were extreme. To toughen his daughters, he made them deliver phone books door-to-door from an early age, despite disapproval from neighbors. He began teaching tennis to Venus at age five on makeshift courts covered with broken glass and graffiti.

The move to Compton was fraught with challenges; Richard suffered multiple physical assaults from gang members who resented his presence.

Yet over time, these same gang members began to respect his dedication and even helped protect Venus and Serena during their training.

Richard’s training methods were unique and, at times, intense. Rick Macci, the sisters’ childhood coach, recalled that Richard would occasionally place shards of glass on the court to train the girls to avoid stepping too far back, thus honing their ability to take the ball early.

Richard also discouraged his daughters from forming relationships and would destroy any doll Venus brought home to avoid distractions from tennis.

A Legacy Marred by Tragedy

Richard’s strict guidance turned Venus and Serena into champions, amassing a combined total of 30 Grand Slam titles. However, the family’s time in Compton later had tragic repercussions.

Oracene’s eldest daughter, Yetunde, who stayed in Compton as an adult, was fatally shot in 2003, a loss that devastated the Williams family. The shooting happened just across from the very courts where Venus and Serena once trained.

Despite this tragedy, Richard’s legacy remains one of resilience. Will Smith, who portrayed him, was struck by Richard’s fierce protectiveness over his daughters, recalling an incident where Richard defended a teenage Venus against a pushy journalist.

Smith was moved by the fierce loyalty Richard displayed and found inspiration in how Venus looked at her father during that moment.

“There Would Be No Venus and Serena Without Richard”

Though Richard Williams is now in poor health and suffering from memory issues after a series of strokes, his daughters remain grateful for his unorthodox approach.

“My father was a visionary,” Serena once said, acknowledging the instrumental role he played in her and Venus’s success.

His relentless pursuit of excellence and fearless parenting turned two young girls from Compton into two of the most successful tennis players in history.

The story of Richard Williams reminds us of the extraordinary lengths a parent can go to for their children’s success—a legacy that remains as powerful as it is complex.