"I called her 'sonic boom": Rick Macci dubs Sofia Kenin 'scariest little creature' he has ever coached

Rick Macci, former coach of Serena Williams, had a lot of high praise for Sofia Kenin, claiming the American tennis star was 'the scariest little creature' he'd ever coached.

The USTPA coach worked with Kenin in her early years, between the ages of five and twelve. Kenin would eventually rise in the WTA rankings, reaching World No.4 after winning her maiden Grand Slam at the 2020 Australian Open.

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In an interview on the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast, Macci lauded Kenin's unique style and understanding of the game.

"I called her 'sonic boom,’” Macci said. “She was the scariest little creature I ever taught. I usually didn't teach people that young. I do now. At age 5-12, I had her. She understood the geometry of the court. She cut the court. She wasn't gonna play like Venus or Serena, but she knew what was going on.

"The way she took that ball right off the rise left you surprised, 'Where are your eyes?' She had the best timing. She had one of the best drop shots ever. We practiced that 24*7.”