Tennis icon Venus Williams officially confirmed her engagement to actor‑producer Andrea Preti on July 22, 2025, following her singles victory at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. The announcement came during a post‑match interview, when former pro Rennae Stubbs jokingly referred to Venus as a “newly engaged woman.” Williams, beaming with joy, replied.
“Yes, my fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing.”
Preti, 37, made his first appearance watching Venus compete live. She added,
“There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill… So he encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play.”
A Court Return Fueled by Love
Williams, now 45, clinched a 6‑3, 6‑4 win over Peyton Stearns—her first singles victory since August 2023. This milestone made her the oldest woman to win a WTA‑level match since Martina Navratilova did so at age 47 in 2004.
During her interview, Venus reflected on the physical toll of professional tennis:
“Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? … it’s nine to five except you’re running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day.”
She credited Preti’s moral support, noting that his presence reignited her commitment during her comeback. The tennis legend concluded,
“He encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here.”
From Amalfi Coast to Wedding Bells
The couple’s public romance began subtly in July 2024, when they were seen aboard a yacht in Nerano, Italy. Engagement rumors first surfaced in February 2025, fueled by photos of Williams wearing a diamond ring during training in Rome—and later at Milan Fashion Week.
Preti, born in Denmark in 1988 and raised in Italy, has made his mark as an actor, producer, and former model. His credits include One More Day and the Italian TV series A Professor.
The pair have maintained a low‑key relationship, punctuated by this recent public acknowledgment of their engagement. Venus has previously stated that she wasn’t looking to settle down—saying in 2021, “I’m not desperate… I promise you I don’t.” But she later acknowledged parting with single life was part of growth.
“When life changes, you’ve got to know when to change,” she said.