Tennis Legend Venus Williams Announces Engagement to Actor Andrea Preti After Historic WTA Win (Video)

Tennis legend Venus Williams has revealed she is engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Italian actor Andrea Preti.

The announcement came after a remarkable return to form, as the 45-year-old secured her first singles victory in over a year.

Williams, who had been sidelined from competitive tennis for 16 months, triumphed over 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets — 6-3, 6-4 — at the Citi Open in Washington D.C. on Monday. The win marked her first singles match victory since 2023 in Cincinnati and made her the oldest WTA match-winner since 2004.

Following her emotional win, Venus addressed the crowd and confirmed the engagement, attributing much of her renewed drive to Preti.

“My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” she said, met with cheers and applause.

She went on to describe the physical demands of the sport and how Preti’s support helped her push through difficult moments during her comeback journey.

“There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. 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. So he encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play.”

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, received a standing ovation as she celebrated both a hard-fought win and a new chapter in her personal life.