Venus Williams confirmed her engagement to actor and producer Andrea Preti during a post-match interview at the Mubadala DC Citi Open in Washington, D.C., revealing the relationship milestone after months of speculation.
“My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” the 45-year-old tennis icon said Tuesday after her singles match.
Williams and Preti were first linked in July 2024 after being photographed vacationing together along Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Rumors of an engagement swirled in February when Williams was seen wearing a diamond ring on her left hand.
Though she’s hinted at stepping away from the sport, Williams credited Preti, 37, with motivating her to stay on the court.
“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?” she said. “You guys don’t know how much work goes into this, like 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. So, he encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play.”
The seven-time Grand Slam champion did not offer any details about wedding plans. Before her relationship with Preti, Williams dated professional golfer Hank Kuehne and later publishing heir Nicholas Hammond.