Did Venus and Serena fall out with their dad?

No, Venus and Serena Williams have not fallen out with their father Richard Williams. While their relationship has naturally evolved over the years as the sisters‘ lives and careers have changed, Richard maintains a cordial bond with his daughters and their families. He continues to be recognized for the pivotal role he played in raising Venus and Serena to become two of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Richard Williams‘ Background

Before diving into Richard‘s current relationship with Venus and Serena, it‘s important to understand his full backstory. Born in Louisiana in 1942, Richard grew up very poor as one of nine children with an abusive father. As an adult, he moved to Chicago then California, married Oracene Price, and started a family.

Richard Williams has admitted he was not a good father or husband early on. He had multiple children with other women outside of his marriage to Oracene. But everything changed one day in the late 1980s when Richard witnessed a tennis player win a substantial cash prize at a tournament.

Despite having limited tennis experience himself, Richard became determined to groom his young daughters Venus and Serena into tennis superstars. He drew up a comprehensive 78-page plan mapping out every aspect of their training and predicted they would dominate women‘s tennis.

Richard‘s Coaching and Career Development

At just four and a half years old, Venus first picked up a tennis racket under Richard‘s instruction. Neither she nor Serena played in structured junior programs under other coaches. Instead, Richard controlled every aspect of their development.

Some of his unconventional methods included:

• Having Venus and Serena learn tennis on deteriorating public courts in Compton.

• Focusing on intense drills to build strength and stamina over proper technique.

• Forcing them to play against adults in matches rather than age-level peers.

• Holding Venus and Serena back from junior tournaments until they were ready to excel.

By the time Venus turned pro at age 14, she had only played in a handful of junior tournaments, never winning one. It was a highly unorthodox path in contrast to other elite players who spent years rising in the junior rankings. But Richard‘s plan worked.

Pulling Them from Juniors

As Venus and Serena started showcasing their talent by winning some prominent events on the junior circuit in the mid-1990s, Richard made the controversial decision to pull them from competition. He wanted them to avoid burnout and focus on their education.

For the next three years, Venus and Serena temporarily stepped back from tennis and enrolled at a Florida private school and community college respectively. Over two decades later, Venus reflected on this critical time:

"My dad just felt that we needed more of a life and education was more important than tennis. Even after getting back into tennis, it still allowed us to make proper life decisions off the court."

Once again, Richard‘s judgment proved wise. The sisters returned to tennis ready to dominate. Venus turned pro in 1994 then Serena followed in 1995.

Rise to Stardom and Richard‘s Diminishing Role

Venus and Serena‘s ascent in pro tennis was just as Richard had predicted over a decade prior. Venus became World #1 in 2002, the first Black woman to ever hold the top ranking. Serena claimed the #1 spot for the first time a year later. Together they ushered in a new era of power and athleticism in women‘s tennis.

As the sisters spent more time traveling the pro tour under the guidance of coaches like Nick Bollettieri, Oracene began taking over the lead coaching role from Richard. She also returned to school to earn her tennis teaching credentials.

Richard remained a strong off-court influence but was not as hands-on with Venus and Serena‘s day-to-day training and tournament travel.

Oracene and Richard‘s Divorce

Around 2000, Richard and Oracene began living separately and divorced after over 20 years of marriage. The reasons behind their split were not publicized but Richard‘s past infidelities were referenced.

Neither Venus nor Serena spoke much about their parents‘ divorce at the time, focusing on their rising tennis success instead. But it marked a major shift in the sisters‘ personal lives.

Richard remained a presence and supporter at Venus and Serena‘s matches in subsequent years. But criticism also emerged over some of his controversial interview remarks and outside relationships.

Richard‘s Deteriorating Health

In 2016 at the age of 74, Richard suffered a major stroke that impacted his speech and mobility. It was the first of at least two strokes he has endured in recent years.

Richard‘s son Chavoita LeSane revealed details about his father‘s poor health to The New York Post in 2017:

"He doesn‘t have the stamina. He‘s in and out…He‘s been quiet and not himself. He‘d run a marathon with Venus or Serena no matter what it took from him. He‘ll still get out there if Venus and Serena reach out and want him there — wheelchair or not."

Now requiring extensive medical care, Richard lives under his son‘s supervision in Atlanta and relies on a wheelchair to get around. His communication remains limited. Needless to say, traveling to tournaments to watch Venus and Serena is no longer feasible.

Current Relationship Between Richard and His Daughters

Despite Richard‘s absence from recent tournaments and public life, all indications point to a cordial relationship still maintained between him and Venus and Serena.

The sisters pay tribute to their father, most recently through executive producing the film King Richard that depicts their childhood under Richard‘s coaching in Compton.

In interviews about the film, Serena shares:

"The movie is about my dad. It‘s about his life and all that he overcame, so I‘m just so happy that I could give him this opportunity for his story to be told."

Both sisters took part in promoting the film and praised actor Will Smith‘s portrayal of their father‘s drive and unconventional methods that shaped who they are.

Though Richard does not make public statements, third parties close to the family confirm his pride in Venus and Serena remains immense. There are no signs of resentment or animosity from how the sisters reference their father.

They appear to have forged a new normal that acknowledges Richard‘s role in their past while understanding his limitations going forward. Now successful entrepreneurs and mothers with their own families, Venus and Serena have matured far beyond their early days under Richard‘s coaching.

The fierce devotion to family they learned from both parents still shines through. When asked about Richard‘s influence, Serena summed it up simply:

“He’s been an amazing father.”

In many ways, the script Richard Williams penned decades ago proved eerily prescient. He mapped their path to greatness and overcame immense odds to set Venus and Serena on a trajectory to deliver on that promise. They have rewritten record books and redefined possibility for generations of young players that have followed.

And for all the controversy, family turmoil, and sensational media headlines over the years, Richard‘s bond with his daughters appears intact at its core. That speaks volumes about the respect Venus and Serena still have for their father against all odds. While Richard may never have trademarked the motto "King Richard", he remains tennis royalty in their eyes.