Venus Williams Wins Match then Announces Engagement – Who is Andrea Preti?

Venus Williams made headlines this week not only for her victory on the court, but also for confirming her engagement to actor Andrea Preti. At Williams's age of 45, she became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match, beating 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets at the DC Open. The surprise didn't stop there, though. Minutes after the win, Williams revealed to the world that she is engaged.

A Win Years in the Making

Williams' return to competitive singles tennis comes after a 16-month break and a difficult recovery from a medical procedure in 2024. The seven-time Grand Slam champion told reporters that the decision to come back was driven by her support team, and by Preti in particular.

'There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill', she said during a post-match interview. 'He encouraged me to get through this, and it's wonderful to be here. He's never seen me play'.

The straight-set victory marked her first tour-level singles win in nearly two years. Williams will next face Magdalena Frech, the No. 24-ranked player in the world, in the tournament's second round.

Who is Andrea Preti?

Andrea Preti is a 37-year-old Danish-born Italian actor, writer, director and former model. According to People, he was born in Denmark in 1988 and later moved to Italy with his family. Preti trained in acting at the Susan Batson Academy in New York City and has appeared in both television and film.

His acting résumé includes roles in 'One More Day', which he also wrote and directed, and more recently in the 2023 film 'Temptation'. He also made appearances in the Italian TV series 'A Professor' and the reality competition 'La Talpa'.

The couple were first linked in July 2024 when they were spotted on a boat along Italy's Amalfi Coast. Engagement rumours began circulating earlier this year when Williams was seen wearing a diamond ring at a tennis training session in Rome and later at a Milan fashion event.

In an interview with ABC News, Williams confirmed the engagement and emphasised how Preti helped her during the tough stages of her comeback. He said, 'You 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'.

A Private Relationship Comes to Light

While Williams has spent most of her adult life in the public spotlight, her relationship with Preti had remained largely private until this week. The couple kept their romance out of the headlines since being seen together in Italy in 2024. But the confirmation of their engagement comes at a meaningful moment, coinciding with Williams' successful return to tennis.

According to CNN, Williams hadn't played a singles match in more than a year before the DC Open. Her recent performances, including a doubles win with Hailey Baptiste and a singles victory over Stearns, show that she is still competitive on the tour.

Though she has had public relationships in the past, including with model Elio Pis and publishing heir Nicholas Hammond, this is the first time Williams has publicly confirmed an engagement.

Venus Williams' Dual Victory

For Williams, the win in Washington and the engagement news both symbolise a new chapter. As she put it during a Tennis Channel interview, the comeback was not necessary. But it was made possible by the belief others had in her, including her now-fiancé.

'It's so rewarding to come back after layoff and injuries', she said. 'A lot of this is for you guys'.

As she prepares for her next match and steps into her new role off the court, Venus Williams continues to add milestones to an already historic career.