Serena Williams’ family is currently making headlines in the tennis world. However, this time it is not for Serena and Venus Williams’ connection with tennis. Rather, this time it is regarding a divorce petition involving their father, Richard Williams.

King Richard, 81, has often been hailed as the driving force behind his daughters’ success in tennis.

However, recently, he has been facing tumultuous personal issues away from the spotlight of the sport. According to some reports, his appeal for divorce against his wife, Lakeisha Graham, has been denied in court.

This comes after Serena Williams’ father not being able to participate in hearings and depositions repeatedly.

Although initially, the judge let it go, the court has reportedly now declared him capable of attending the proceedings. But Williams failed to appear for one of his next proceedings, and the judge of the court, James Martz, has apparently dismissed the entire case. Chavoita LeSane, Williams’ son, had some reasoning to offer in King Richard’s defense.

via Reuters

To The Sun, he confessed how his father was afraid to come to court because of the prolonged procedure of the whole hearing. “With the strokes and stuff, he’s just terrified of the court procedures. It wasn’t just court. He was supposed to show up for his deposition. I had to talk to the attorney and say, ‘He’s not gonna make it.’ It was terrible,” said the brother of Serena and Venus Williams.

However, on the other hand, the attorney of Lakeisha Graham explained, “On April 30, 2024, attorney for Richard Williams prepared an Agreed Motion and Order for Dismissal of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.”

Adding more to that, her attorney further added that the motion and order for Dismissal has already been executed by both parties. And this is the reason for the dismissal. While neither side seems to agree with the other as rumors fly, this is not the first time that the Williams sisters’ father’s divorce situation caught the attention of the tennis world.

Serena Williams’ father’s journey of marriage with Graham

The story of Serena Williams’ father, Richard, and his wife, Graham, started back in 2010 after their wedding. However, the journey, which started on a sweet note, soon became a point of rivalry between them. Seven years after their marriage, Williams’ father filed for divorce. Since then, Williams, who was previously married to Oracene Price for 22 years, has made headlines regarding his separation from his wife. But not for the right reasons.

Various accusations of stealing, bankruptcy, and ugly fights from both sides soon caught the public eye. While explanations have been given for both, some believe the truth has yet to come to light. However, the latest development has further sent shockwaves through the tennis community. What happens next is still to be seen.