EXCLUSIVE: Rick Macci talks about Rafael Nadal’s return, Novak Djokovic’s GOAT status, Emma Raducanu’s decline, Coco Gauff’s coaching fiasco, and more

Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci is one of the most experienced tennis professionals out there. He runs a tennis academy in Florida where he nurtures various young talents. He exclusively spoke to FirstSportz where he detailed various aspects of contemporary tennis.

Q- Last year Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open, won the French Open, and reached the Wimbledon semis but everything turned haywire for him since then. This year has probably been the worst season of his career- second-round exit in Melbourne missed the French Open and will miss Wimbledon and US Open too. Is it the end for him? If not, can he come back and win big again?

At the end of the day, he relies on his legs as much as anybody. If he’s a step slow, that changes the whole landscape. When you don’t play a lot, then you also lose that competitive edge. Now, he’s battling the injury part. I think it’s pretty much on the wall. If he does come back, it will just be to say thank you or goodbye because it’s difficult as you get older, you start having injuries and the movement is not like it used to be. Everybody else is now not afraid of you, it changes everything. What an amazing career, but you never count out the heart of a champion so we’ll see how this plays out.

Q- The kind of dominance Novak Djokovic has shown in the last few years is unreal. Tennis has never seen somebody dominate the sport like this. Like Rafa last year, Djokovic this year has a chance to win the calendar slam. Do you think it is the best shot at a calendar slam for Djokovic?

Remember, he has won the last 4 Wimbledons. He is definitely the favorite. The guy is going down as the greatest male player to ever hold a racquet. 389 weeks he was No.1 (Are you kidding me?), 23 Grand Slam titles, 10 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, 3 US Open, 3 French, 94 singles titles, and he couldn’t play because he never got the vaccine. Maybe if he’d have had one more shot, he would’ve had a lot more shots at slams. The guy could’ve had 26 by now. No one has ever covered the court and delivered from awkward positions like the Djoker. He is not done yet. Wimbledon’s gonna be tough, there are some guys but he is definitely the favorite.

Q- Djokovic is definitely the favorite but there are guys, especially on grass. Who do you think can challenge him and is Carlos Alcaraz the biggest threat to Djokovic at Wimbledon?

I think it depends on the draw. You get a big server and a guy that can chip the ball around the court and can come in a little bit, it changes everything. Grass is almost like a different sport and this is what people don’t understand. I think Sinner [Jannik Sinner] has a real shot just because I like how he moves on grass. I know his serve is maybe not the biggest but I like Sinner a lot. On grass, everything happens so quickly. Alcaraz just won a tournament [Queen’s] a little bit ago and he was on the ropes in the first round. He got better and better, and better. The movement is different but now that Alcaraz has confidence, it’ll be interesting how things pan out. But Sinner is the one I’d predict that can do damage. Again, anybody with a big serve with a good draw can be lethal. Bublik will be seeded because he just won a tournament. Despite everything, Novak has to be the heavy favorite.

Q- So many injuries for Jannik Sinner. Why can’t his body hold up?

3 out of 5 sets at Wimbledon is different than it is at Roland Garros. I think as these young guys get bigger and stronger, and mentally get used to it, absolutely they can win big. Their best is yet to come. I really believe in Sinner. He has authoritative ground strokes, he’s a great competitor. I like his movement. Remember, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. I like Sebastian Korda too. I said two years ago that he’s the next great American even though he has been injured. He and Sinner, I’d predict have a shot, depending on the draw. If Novak doesn’t get it, I would take one of those two.

Will Rick Macci become Coco Gauff’s coach?

Q- People had a lot of expectations from Coco Gauff after the French Open final last year but she hasn’t delivered as promised. She made the mark at Wimbledon 8 years ago against Venus. What are her chances at Wimbledon this year?

First off, I gotta defend her a little bit. She’s only 19 but you win a pro tournament at 15, everybody thinks you should have won a major by now. She has electric speed, an amazing backhand, is mentally strong, a very good first serve but the forehand has always been a little bit of an issue. Does she have a shot? Anybody can beat anybody but I think on grass, the forehand can break down more because you won’t have as much time. She is always going to be a Top 10 player. I think there are Grand Slams in the future for Coco. I’m good friends with her father. Maybe at the end of the year, she’ll take some time off, and we might get together. I can definitely put Humpty Dumpty together but it has to be reconstructive surgery. The muscle memory has to be reprogrammed, I gotta reverse engineer a lot of stuff. You can’t just say ‘be aggressive’ or ‘go forward’. That’s not gonna work. She has to be taught the ATP forehand, faster stuff because her current forehand, as much as it is an asset, is also a liability. She can still be Top 10 and still win a Grand Slam but with her ability and potential, I think if her forehand becomes her best shot, I could help her get to No.1 and more importantly, stay there.

Q- Will we see a partnership between Rick Macci and Coco Gauff? Are you willing to become Gauff’s coach?

I can’t travel because I run a business. I teach 50 hours a week. To be a quarterback and put my hands around this- I could definitely be involved and get on the team. I kind of told that to the father. At the end of the day, I could definitely help. But I wouldn’t travel with anybody simply because I have a business. I don’t need a job but if I want to help anybody, it would have to be under the right scenario. She’s a great kid, she’s an American, and they live 20 minutes away, but more importantly, a lot of people helped her with the forehand but here, you and I are talking about it. There still is a hole. Anybody can help, but is it backed up by science? Is it biomechanically right? And I think to this day, she hasn’t got it. So who knows, at the end of the year, I’ll get together with Cori and we’ll come up with a plan. I’d love to help her, but if not, she’ll always be a great player but the forehand will be an issue because she deserves better- she checks so many other boxes as a great player.

Q- Let me know your views about on-court coaching. Do you think it’s a good idea to get suggestions from coaches after every point?

I personally don’t think it’s a great idea simply because I always like the element of breaking it down microscopically in practice. You do everything in practice and that’s how you put together things. But going back and forth with the coach at every point, I think it doesn’t help you mentally. I don’t think you get stronger if you have someone else helping you out every time. Can on-court coaching be involved to some degree? Yes. I’d prefer all the work be done off the court and then they go out there and try to figure it out. You’d become mentally stronger if you figure it out on your own.

Q- Nick Kyrgios plays a different brand of tennis. He brings charisma, entertainment, and fans to the court. Do you think personalities like Kyrgios, and Bublik are good for tennis?

I think it’s great. I love Kyrgios. I know Bublik. They are great for tennis. They are showmen; they wear their emotions on their sleeves, they’re artists, they’re tricksters, they’re performers, and people love that. I think tennis needs that. But the bottom line is- can you be that artist, can you be that performer, can you have all that shots, and be mentally strong like Carlos Alcaraz? That is why 3 years ago I said that this is something the world has never seen- a generational talent. He has all the skills but he eats pressure for breakfast where a lot of times guys like Bublik and Kyrgios get in their own way. I think they’re great for tennis but mentally; you gotta be there every single point if you wanna be one of the best in the world. Both of them are dangerous and nobody wants to play either of those guys.

Q- Frances Tiafoe, after losing in the US Open semis said he has some unfinished business. Do you think he can deliver at Wimbledon this year or maybe the US Open?

He definitely can win a Grand Slam title or two in the coming years. I love Frances. We hung out at the after-party of King Richard’s premier. Unreal talent, a great athlete, but more importantly, a great human being. You can see what confidence does by seeing what happened at the US Open last year. He just won a title on grass. He is a dangerous player, he knows and expects to win. That’s much different than hoping to win. I think he’s always going to be in the Top 10. He could beat anybody, anytime, anywhere because now he believes. If you believe, you now know you can achieve. As far as unfinished business at the US Open, that’s where he’d like to win because he grew up an hour away in Maryland as a kid. He’s not going anywhere. He is one of the next great Americans. I love Frances but he’s dangerous, and if gets a good draw at Wimbledon, look out, Big Foe could be on the go!

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Rick Macci believes Carlos Alcaraz is a generational talent

Q- Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jannik Sinner: Could these guys be part of a new ‘Big 4’ on the men’s tour?

Absolutely. Carlos Alcaraz is a generational talent. This is something the world of tennis has never seen. He is a combination of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Agassi. He checked every box. Once he starts running, he hits another gear. Tennis has never seen that type of makeup speed. And if you have that, you can get to the ball quickly and have multiple options to deliver quality balls. That’s a big thing in men’s tennis. He is biomechanically very sound. There are no little holes in his game maybe like Andy Murray’s forehand, or Coco’s forehand. On top of that, he has artistic skills. He handles the racquet like a magician. He has a drop shot from outer space and no one has seen this on the pro tour. This is a big lesson for any coach. He wasn’t discouraged- he was baked in from age 6,7. He could do it anytime, against anybody on a breakpoint. And the disguise is crazy. He’s not only changing the way other pros play but also changing how people teach the game- that’s how good this guy is. But as we all know, tennis is a game of inches. From one year to another, mentally, the guy eats pressure for breakfast. He’ll lose a 20-ball rally and smile. He just enjoys being on that tennis court. That’s what separates great from good. Barring injuries, he has the potential to go down as the greatest player of all time. No one is going undefeated but he is by far the leader in the clubhouse and he has checked every box and more.

Rune is going to be there. I think Korda is going to be there. Sinner will also be there. They can definitely form the next Big 4 but I definitely think Alcaraz is a little bit of a cut above. They will be the next Big 4 but there is a guy named Novak Djokovic. He’s the GOAT and he’s not going anywhere. Goats love to run on the mountains and this GOAT is gonna be running on Mt. Rushmore.

Q- Do you think Carlos Alcaraz is going the Nadal way and putting too much body on the line which may not be ideal in the longer run?

He moves so violently. We’ve never seen someone stop and start like him. He’s like a Mercedes. You’ve gotta be all in. He enjoys playing. For everybody that watches tennis, he’s a great role model. For any young player- enjoy the battle, and have a great attitude. You’re gonna win and lose but the sun is coming up tomorrow. This is why he handles pressure. He’s all about competition and that’s the wildcard that separates great from good.

Q- Will Wimbledon 2023 be the farewell tournament for Venus Williams and if it is, what are your expectations from her?

I love VW. In King Richard, you could see the bond I had with her. For Venus still to be playing, for me, it’s incredible. It just shows her spirit, love, and passion for the game. She hasn’t played in such a long time because she was injured. For her to come back and be that competitive without any matches just shows you mentally, how unique this young lady is. She has the same Compton street fight I saw back in 1991 when she was 10. There was something different inside this child and it’s still in there at age 42. How much does she have left? Depends on injuries. If she wants to keep playing, god bless her. She loves to play on grass. It is her best surface. If Serena wasn’t going to have a baby, I thought they’d play doubles this year at the US Open. But Venus on grass as you can see, can beat anybody at any time. Nobody is more proud of both Serena and Venus than Rick Macci.

Q- After years of uncertainty, do you think Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina are a step ahead of other players on the women’s tour? A new Big-3 brewing?

In my opinion, Iga is the leader and she’s much better mentally than anybody right now. If you win 35/37 in a row, you’ve got something different mentally between the ears. She has won 4 Grand Slams and is No.1 and hence I think she’s much better than the rest- mentally. I think she’s vulnerable on grass but still, she’s much better than the rest. I think Sabalenka has the firepower. Also, if someone can hit that big, she can be vulnerable on defense, and Rybakina on her serve. Those would definitely be the 3 that are in there but I think Iga’s much better, she’s in her own league.

Q- Favorites for Wimbledon 2023 on the women’s side?

My favorite would be Rybakina because I feel with her serve and shorter points, she has a chance. And also Muchova who got to the finals of the French Open. I love her game. I think with her chip, drop shot, and volley capability, if she gets a good draw, she might win her first Grand Slam. But Iga mentally is not gonna give it to anybody but it’s easier to get to her and win points on grass.

Q- The Russia-Ukraine war is getting reflected in sports too, especially tennis. Do you think the Russian players are being treated fairly? Sports and politics shouldn’t be mixed, right?

It’s apples and oranges. One has nothing to do with the other. The Russian players aren’t making decisions, they were just born there. It’s not their decision. I don’t think it’s appropriate but everybody is gonna have their own opinion. In my opinion, as professional tennis players, it’s all about competing and enjoying the great game of tennis. Politics shouldn’t be there in tennis whatsoever.

Rick Macci on Emma Raducanu’s injuries and potential decline

Q- In the 2021 US Open, a girl named Emma Raducanu burst into the scenes out of nowhere and absolutely blew everybody away by winning the tournament. Ever since then, she has hardly won much- be it because of pressure or injuries. Is it too harsh to call her a ‘one tournament wonder’?

I actually reached out to her agent because I feel that I could help her not only strategically, but mentally, whatever is going on. So we’ll see how that plays out by the end of the year. But I think anybody who goes through qualifying and wins a Grand Slam, you’re a very unique, talented individual, not just with your game, technically or strategically, but mentally, okay. You got to have something different mentally, that’s greatness there. Now, in the blink of an eye, you go from that to having all these opportunities and millions of dollars and everybody treats you differently. Everything around you has changed but you’re still a competitor and there’s a tennis ball and a racket, and a net and it’s all about the competition. So I don’t know her, I don’t know what’s in her head, how she’s handling all that so I’d have to talk to her, her parents, and her agent on that. But also, now you throw now the injuries, so that can make you a little more tentative, it affects movement, it affects confidence, you don’t play as much, so now you got all that. And the last thing is the media wanting to beat up on her simply because she did what she did, she went from rags to riches, and everything changed, so she’s a target.

A lot of the time you can be sensitive and I’d like to relate it to one of my all-time favorite students I ever had Jennifer Capriati. She was the most dominant junior player ever. Won the national 18s as a 12-year-old, and top ten in the world on the Pro Tour as a 14-year-old. Everybody knows she went off the Tour. You don’t lose the talent, you lose maybe the fitness. But you don’t lose the ability. But she came back, and no one thought she could come back, except her father, her mother, and Rick Macci. Not only did she come back, she came not to 50, not to 20, not the ten. She came back to number 1. Won three Grand Slams, an Olympic Gold medal, and a big contract with Fila. So, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. I think Emma Raducanu can come back, I’d love to get involved in that project, I know I could help big time. I think she can come back and be one of the best players in the world and she definitely in my opinion has the game to win Grand Slams again. But I need to take the temperature first to see what’s going on.

Q- A couple of years ago, players like Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev were projected to take over men’s tennis but haven’t delivered yet. What’s the case with them?

I don’t think they can dominate but I think Medvedev is by far the best of the 3. I feel he is mentally the strongest. He is the best mover and he has been there and done that. He’s the rubber band man! So he’s not going anywhere and will be in the mix. I wouldn’t count him out and he’s always going to be in the top 5, top 6. I think he’s a cut above. When you get to Zverev, the injury affected his confidence. He’s slowly coming back. He’s dangerous. He’ll always have the potential to be a top-10 player. But I think the potential of Sinner, Carlos, and Rune is a cut above Zverev. Eventually, competition makes everybody better. Thiem, when he won the US Open beating Zverev, that was the COVID year. But the injury- an injury to your wrist is brutal. Does he have the potential to come back in the top 10, top 15? Yes. But I don’t think he’s in the mix. I would put Medvedev in there, after him Zverev, and then Thiem. There’s a fine line between not having confidence and confidence. Confidence can come and go in a blink of an eye so never say never.

Q- Your thoughts on Stefanos Tsitsipas? His chances on grass at Wimbledon?

I don’t think he likes grass. It’s a little trickier for him. It’s a little fast. He’s a great competitor and has great ground strokes but at the end of the day, grass is never going to be his favorite surface just like Casper Ruud. They can win matches and beat players but they’ll never win big because grass needs a package. Tsitsipas and Casper, with Zverev, will always be top 10 players. Wimbledon, I think will be the tournament most difficult for Tsitsipas.

Q- Your take on Coco Gauff’s partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou going forward?

Ever since she was a youngster and went to Europe, she practiced at his facility like a lot of other players. So they do have some type of relationship. He volunteered to help Coco out. A lot of people have helped her out but there’s still an issue with the forehand. From a mental point of view, motivation, an opinion on tactics and strategies, everybody has something to offer. Whether it’s right or wrong, that’s in the eye of the beholder. But I believe it’s only a temporary thing. Her father is really her coach. I think she knows how to play and I think she knows how to win. Right now, on the right side of her body, she needs an AK-47 and her forehand is the issue. And if that gets corrected, I think her game will skyrocket, and she’s gonna be a dominant force.

Q- In the upcoming few years, can Novak Djokovic cement himself as the ‘greatest’ sportsperson this planet has ever seen?

It’s not because I’m a tennis coach or a life coach. It’s tough because you’re comparing different sports. The reason why I’d take the Djoker is that tennis is an individual sport, his longevity, and mental strength. No one loves basketball more than Rick Macci. I saw Jordan in his prime. He was clutch! I saw Tiger in his prime but what Djokovic is doing, it’d definitely be interesting but I’d probably go with Djoker. If he wins 26/27 majors, then the conversation will be very very different. And he’s still doing it at an older age. So yeah, absolutely. Tennis is a one-on-one sport. Anybody that could win that many Grand Slams against Rafa and Federer, it’s not like he’s playing some cupcakes. For him to be No.1 for 389 weeks despite all the pushback about the vaccine mandate and getting kicked out of Australia. That shows you the mental makeup of Novak Djokovic- the greatest male tennis player ever to pick up a racquet. And if this continues, 100%, he’s gonna go down as the greatest male sports figure of all time because he’s not only breaking records, he’s smashing them left and right.

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