Oracene Price
Born | Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. | April 3, 1952
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Coaching career (1994–2003) | |
Coaching achievements | |
Coachee singles titles total | 49 (V) – 72 (S) (121 titles) |
Coachee(s) doubles titles total | 21 (S-V) – 2 (V) – 5 (S) (28 titles) |
List of notable tournaments (with champion)
| |
Coaching awards and records | |
Records |
Oracene Price (born April 3, 1952) is an American tennis coach. She is best known for being both the mother and coach of Venus and Serena Williams, both of whom are widely regarded as among the best tennis players of all time. She is the former wife of Richard Williams, whom she divorced in 2002.
Biography
Nicknamed "Brandy", Price was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1952. Her father was an automotive worker from the
By the end of 2000, Price was no longer living with her husband Richard Williams, and citing irreconcilable differences, they divorced in 2002. She reverted to her maiden name of Price.[6][7]
During a semifinal match between Serena and
Price describes herself as a deeply spiritual woman.[10] Price also has described herself as being a "rampant feminist" when dealing with the overly sexualized images of women in the media.[11]
She traveled to Kenya with her daughter Serena for charity work, as well as Senegal to aid in the construction of schools.[10]
Price was portrayed by
Coaching
Price's coaching has arguably been overshadowed by her role as mother, but as a coach she has been called underappreciated.[12] Price is not a coach in a traditional sense (though she did learn tennis herself to help teach her daughters the technical aspects of the game) and is instead credited, along with Richard for helping to build a solid foundation of self-esteem and outside interests for her daughters.[13]
Venus and Serena's "poise under pressure"[14] is often credited to the self-belief instilled in them by their mother. "There's no such thing as pressure," says Price. "As black Americans, that's all we've ever had. It's life. So where's the pressure?"[15] This approach was coupled with, according to noted tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, a respect that meant that neither Price nor Richard Williams raised their voices to their daughters.[16] Journalist Bonnie D. Ford has said that the longevity exhibited by the Williams sisters is directly attributable to their parents and the way that Richard Williams and Price have helped them manage their careers and lives. Ford believes it is especially admirable that Price and her former husband have continued to remain jointly supportive despite their separation.[17]
References
- ^ OCLC 58831607.
- ^ "Poll: Do you expect Venus and Serena Williams to return to Saginaw to support the Urban Youth Tennis Foundation?". MLive.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ "Arrest in killing of tennis stars' half-sister". CNN. January 18, 2004. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ Edmonson[clarification needed]
- ^ Donaldson[clarification needed]
- ^ Wertheim[clarification needed]
- ^ Serena and Venus on the fabulous Oracene, mother of the Williams Dynasty Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ George Vecsey (June 26, 2003). "Theories About Paris From Serena's Mother". The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ SI.com Tennis Mailbag- The Ultimate Battle
- ^ a b "The mother behind the Williams' sisters". Daily Nation. November 25, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ISBN 1-57488-925-7.
- ^ "TENNIS.com – Blogs – String Theory by Tom Perrotta". 2008. p. 2.
- ^ "TENNIS.com – Blogs – Concrete Elbow by Steve Tignor". Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ "Serena Williams poised despite mounting pressure". USA Today. May 19, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
- ^ S. L. Price (May 31, 1999). "Who's Your Daddy?". Sports Illustrated. CNN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- ^ "Bollettieri had a hand in grooming 10 players who hit No. 1" Archived July 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ "Williams sisters' parents deserve accolades for job well-done". ESPN. August 27, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
Further reading
- Bradley, Michael (2003). Venus Williams. Michael Cavendish Publishing. ]
- Donaldson, Madeline (2003). Venus & Serena Williams. Minneapolis, MN: LernerSports. ISBN 0-8225-3316-2.
- Edmondson, Jacqueline (2005). Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33165-0.
- Fein, Paul (2005). You Can Quote Me on That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights and Zingers. Washington: Potomac Books. ISBN 1-57488-925-7.
- Wertheim, L. Jon (2001). Venus Envy: A Sensational Season Inside the Women's Tennis Tour. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-019774-9.