Molding Greatness: How Rick Macci became intertwined with the royal family of tennis

You know the old adage "hard work pays off?" Well it's not just a cliche to Rick Macci, a man who's dedicated his life to serving and developing the future stars of American tennis. A small town in Ohio is where Macci discovered his love of the game, and then spent the next several decades building up his reputation as one of the sport's standout and reliable coaches.

He joined Kamau Murray on the most recent episode of the Tennis.com Podcast, where he broke down a variety of topics that included how his esteem in the industry led to the opportunity to work with two young players you have heard of.

"Those little girls would try so hard to get to the ball, they almost fell down," Macci said when referring to the first time he saw Venus & Serena Williams in a competitive atmosphere. "Forget both these kids (just) being number one someday, they can transcend the game."

In addition to confirming the precise accuracy of the film "King Richard," Macci gives several thoughtful answers to questions he had not been asked on his recent media tour. The coaches discuss dealing with parents, dedicating enough time and energy to the students that aren't considered standout prodigies, and coaching their own children.

In the end, Murray highlights what many in the tennis community are delighted with. It was great to watch the story of the Williams family on the big screen, but it was equally great to finally see one of the hardest working men on the court get his flowers. The game needs people like Macci and if you listen to this podcast—you'll start to understand why.