It's 40 love for Venus Williams as first coach reveals star's epic talent at 12

SO it’s your 12th birthday and to celebrate we’ll have four hours of tennis, a few rounds of boxing, 30 minutes of ballet and an hour of taekwondo.

Then back home for a slice of cake before collapsing into bed.

And tomorrow, we’ll be back to training hard again.

Welcome to the world of a young Venus Williams, as witnessed by the man who helped transform her from gangly kid to Grand Slam champion.

A superstar who, remarkably, is still going strong as she celebrates her 40th birthday on Wednesday.

Rick Macci, 65, coached her back in the day and distinctly recalls that June of 1992. He tells the Sunday Mirror: “Her birthday wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies and sunshine. She had only one goal in mind – to be the best in the world. I’ve never seen that much determination in anyone of any age.