Tennis icon Venus Williams has confirmed her engagement to actor Andrea Preti, just moments after making a triumphant return to competitive tennis—becoming the oldest WTA match-winner since 2004.
The 45-year-old champion shared the joyful news after a resounding straight-sets victory over 23-year-old Peyton Stearns at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. It marked Williams’ first singles win in 16 months and her first since her last victory in Cincinnati back in 2023.
“My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” Williams told an applauding crowd. “He’s never seen me play.”
Williams defeated Stearns 6–3, 6–4 in a spirited comeback following a prolonged absence from the sport. She credited Preti, 37, as a key source of motivation in her return to form.
“There were so many times where I just wanted to coast,” she said. “You don’t know how hard it is to play tennis… lifting weights, dying, and then repeating it the next day. But he encouraged me to get through it.”
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Rumors of the couple’s engagement began circulating earlier this year when Williams was spotted in Italy wearing a large ring on her wedding finger. According to IMDb, Preti was born in Denmark but relocated to Italy during his teenage years.
As for what’s next, Williams faces a significant challenge in her next round against fifth-seed Magdalena Fręch, a 27-year-old player from Poland.
The engagement announcement and emotional win mark a major high point in Williams’ celebrated career—proving once again that her passion and perseverance continue to inspire on and off the court.