Venus Williams, the highly decorated tennis icon, announced her engagement to actor Andrea Preti this week. This fantastic announcement comes immediately following her successful return to singles action. On July 22, 2025, the now 45-year-old athlete truly felt young again as she picked up her first victory in two years. She did it through her victory over world No 35 Peyton Stearns at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. Williams swamped Williams in the final 6-3, 6-4. Pro tennis, the greatest sport in the world, happens to be the most amazing stage for some extraordinary talent.
After this milestone win, Williams announced her engagement to Preti, 37. The pair first ignited rumors of their romance in early 2024. Engagement buzz first began when an engagement ring was spotted on Williams’ hand this past February. Preti came to the match to support Williams and had cheered Williams from the sidelines over her long, difficult return to the game.
In a post-match interview on court, Williams got very candid about what she went through to prepare for this event. She described it as a grueling process, stating, “Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don’t know how much work goes into this, like it’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time, lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day.” She credited Preti for motivating her during this demanding period, saying, “My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing.”
Williams is preparing for her new challenge. She’ll be up against Poland’s Magdalena Frech, currently ranked No.24 in the world. This weekend’s tournament will be her biggest test yet—physically or mentally. She’s not resting on her laurels after her big recent win. She’s coming back to make even more progress!
The Mubadala Citi DC Open will be a historic moment for Williams, a player who has overcome so much adversity throughout her career. Even in the face of adversity, her joy and gratitude rang through as she thanked all those who had helped her throughout her journey. Reflecting on her journey, she admitted, “There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill.”
