Richard Williams, the father of Serena Williams and Venus Williams, has been a significant influence in the lives of the two sisters both on and off the court. Richard introduced his daughters to tennis and played a major role in their early development.
Richard Williams’ health began to decline in the mid-2010s, preventing him from routinely attending his daughters’ events. Richard had a stroke in 2016, which significantly limited his ability to speak.
In February 2020, reports showed up that Richard Williams is suffering from ‘dementia’ as well as ‘brain damage’. Subsequently, he also experienced significant speaking trouble. Williams is currently in the custody of his son Chavoita LeSane, who also has Richard’s power of attorney.
Richard maintains a cordial relationship with his daughters and their families, despite his inability to attend their tournaments as a cheerful parent.
Serena Williams posted a sweet video of her father enjoying time with his granddaughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on Instagram in November 2021. Even amid adversity, the old man never fails to be with his daughters, inspiring and encouraging them to this day.
The impending release of King Richard, a biographical film based on the 79-year-old, has led to a renewed interest in the relationship that he shared with his daughters.
Serena describes her father as someone who was well ahead of his time. The 23-time Grand Slam winner said her father anticipated a lot of negativity and backlash, but did not let any of it affect his daughters’ tennis or personal lives.
Some may wonder why the long-awaited biopic about the legendary Williams sisters focused on the viewpoint of their father, Richard Williams. But to Serena Williams, that was the only way the story of their ascension to tennis royalty could have been told.
Both Venus and Serena are listed as Executive Producers on the film, a title they only approved after seeing the movie for the first time. To the tennis champion, the movie came out to be everything she wanted it to be and an homage to the father she wants the world to see.
At this point, we can say that the Williams sisters are so proud of their father, Richard Williams.
