Venus & Serena

Dave Rineberg comes across in this boook as not only a competent coach, but also as a proud fatherly type influence in Serena & Venus's lives. Obviously, Richard WIlliams was the dominant figure in their formative years, but this book really shows how Rineberg was kept in the shadows & made to feel unappreciated by Richard Williams. Underpaid & often rudely dismissed, Rineberg still retained a committment to the girls' tennis game, to their hitting sessions, and their tournament appearances. He put up with RW's outlandish behavior for the benefit of the Serena & Venus, who you could see he developed alot of fondness towards. Serena & Venus come across as regular teen girls, although very athletic & determined. So for that reason, I was really left feeling sad at the end of the book, with what seemed to be a lack of closure for the coach. Overall, a well-written account of the Williams sisters' transition from tennis players to champions, sometimes with detailed match reviews and some secret tennis training tips. Very intriguing read, sometimes hard to put down. Reccomended for all, especially tennis lovers.

If you are a diehard tennis fan, this may be a good book for you. It's a behind the scenes look at their development from early teens to young pros. As you might imagine, Serena and Venus come across as the loving, precocious girls they are. Their father comes across as the self-important, spotlight-grabbing huckster that he is. Richard Williams always projected himself as the only coach of the sisters. Rineberg dispels that notion and discusses his involvement in their development. As a relative unknown tennis coach, it must have been a thrill to be given the opportunity to coach such gifted athletes.But the real benefit of this book is the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at what type people Serena and Venus are. I think this book does an excellent job of exhibiting their personality. Both are outgoing, fun girls who clearly have a great love for each other. Coming from a different tennis background having not played any junior tournaments, there was great resentment to their potential. This resentment, I believe, has caused many to wrongly dislike the Williams sisters. But whether you like or dislike the sisters, it's very clear that they are very unique, intelligent and fun-loving sisters.Overall, this book doesn't have much to say. "I was lucky to coach two great kids. Their dad is a huckster who doesn't follow-thru on his promises." But, to get a behind the scenes look at the real personality of the Williams sisters, that was enough for me.

Venus & Serena: My Seven Years As Hitting Coach For The Williams Sisters is the personal inside story and testimony of Dave Rineberg, who served as hitting coach for world-famous tennis champions Venus Williams and Serena Williams from 1992 to 1999. An inset section of black-and-white photographs embellishes this open and candid account of athletic training, determination, and the drive to succeed. As timely as their current history making performances on the tennis court today, Venus & Serena is very highly recommended for tennis fans who are eager to learn more behind the scenes about two widely celebrated champions.

This book gets you up close to two young girls working hard to make it in the tennis world. A side (not seen on TV) told by their hitting coach who really cared about them and their future. You will feel the thrill of their first big wins and losses. I laughed and cried while reading it and felt great respect for Dave Rineberg's hard work with little or no recognition from Mr. Williams.