Venus Williams has confirmed her engagement to actor Andrea Preti, following her first singles victory in a year. The 45-year-old tennis star made the announcement on Tuesday after defeating Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C.
During a post-match interview, commentator Rennae Stubbs referred to Williams as a “newly engaged woman,” prompting the seven-time Grand Slam champion to smile and say, “Yes, my fiancé is here.” Williams credited Preti with encouraging her to continue playing despite the physical demands of the sport.
“And he really encouraged me to keep playing,” Williams said. “There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill.” She added that Preti had never seen her play before, making the win particularly special.
Williams became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis. The victory was her first since 2023. Williams and Preti were first linked in July 2024 while holidaying in Italy, and engagement rumours surfaced in February 2025 when she was spotted wearing a diamond ring.
The tennis star also spoke recently about her battle with uterine fibroids, which caused severe pain. She underwent a myomectomy a year ago and has urged others to advocate for their health, saying, “You can be denied the best healthcare no matter who you are.”
