Venus Williams, who simply made historical past with a singles win on the DC Open, has additionally just lately gained huge off the courtroom.
In a post-match interview following her first-round victory in Washington, D.C., the 45-year-old tennis legend confirmed she’s engaged to 37-year-old Italian actor and producer Andrea Preti. The engagement, speculated for months by followers, was lastly revealed as Williams thanked Preti for his help throughout her return to tennis.
“My fiancé is right here and he actually inspired me to maintain taking part in,” she informed reporters as the gang roared loudly in response within the background.
“There have been so many occasions the place I simply needed to coast and type of chill. Are you aware how laborious it’s to play tennis? You guys don’t understand how a lot work goes into this, prefer it’s 9 to five besides you’re working the entire time. Lifting weights and similar to dying and then you definitely repeat it the subsequent day. So he inspired me to get by means of this and it’s great to be right here. He’s by no means seen me play.”
The affirmation has arrived months after Williams was noticed wanting smitten in Rome with Preti in February, carrying what many thought was a diamond engagement ring. Although she’s a world icon and seven-time Grand Slam champion, Williams has lengthy stored her private life out of the highlight. In contrast to her child sis Serena, whose 2017 marriage ceremony to Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian made headlines worldwide, Williams has not often spoken publicly about her love life.
She and Preti have stored their romance largely non-public, and particulars about how they met or how lengthy they’ve been collectively stay unclear, though they had been first romantically linked starting in the summertime of 2024.
Information of their engagement has added a romantic twist to what was already a headline and history-making week for the tennis professional. On Monday night time, she defeated 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight units on the Mubadala Citi DC Open, turning into the second-oldest lady to win a WTA tour-level singles match. The win has marked her triumphant return to taking part in after a 16-month hiatus attributable to well being points, together with a torn hamstring and ongoing struggles with the autoimmune illness Sjögren’s.
It stays to be seen when marriage ceremony bells are on the horizon; perhaps the couple will select to maintain their plans non-public. Within the meantime, Williams is gearing up for her subsequent match through the DC Open on Wednesday, July 23, with one other doable one slated for Friday, July 25.
