Former coach Rick Macci predicts Serena Williams’ return: “It’s certain”
A coach of the Williams sisters tells French media L’Équipe that the 23-time Grand Slam champion still possesses the competitive fire and technical “biomechanics” to return to the WTA Tour, specifically eyeing a comeback at Indian Wells or the Miami Open.
Serena Williams, 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Rick Macci, a former coach for the Williams sisters (1991-1995), has stated with absolute confidence that Serena Williams will break her hiatus from the WTA Tour this March. Speaking to L’Équipe, Macci dismissed the idea that the 23-time Grand Slam champion is finished with competitive play, centering his argument on her intrinsic motivation and technical longevity.
The core of Macci’s claim rests on his belief that Williams’ competitive drive remains unextinguished. “Serena is going to come back, it’s certain,” Macci told the French publication. He clarified that this is not merely a hunch but an assessment of her personality: “She hasn’t lost the itch. She’s a competitor. You don’t just turn that off after twenty-five years.”
To bolster his claim of her readiness, Macci revealed that the champion is already back on the court in a high-intensity environment. “She’s practicing with men,” Macci noted, suggesting that Serena is intentionally seeking out the pace and power of male hitting partners to sharpen her reflexes and maintain her elite level of play.
Serena didn’t confirm
Macci’s evaluation de-emphasizes age, focusing instead on Williams’ “biomechanics,” which he believes remain world-class. He noted that her serve, widely considered the greatest in the history of the women’s game, allows her to remain dangerous regardless of her time away from the court. “The biomechanics are there,” Macci explained. “The serve is the last thing to go, and hers is the best we’ve ever seen.”
As for the specific window for this return, Macci pointed directly to the upcoming “Sunshine Double” in the United States. “I see her returning at Indian Wells or Miami,” he stated, citing the convenience of the Florida-based Miami Open as a logical starting point for a player residing in the area.
While Macci’s words carry the weight of someone who knows the Williams family’s history intimately, the report remains speculative. Williams herself has not officially confirmed a return, and Macci’s comments serve as an outside perspective from a former mentor rather than an official announcement from the Williams camp.
Nevertheless, his insistence that “the fire is still there” has reignited a global conversation about the possibility of one final chapter for the legendary athlete.
