Venus Williams confirms engagement after inspiring comeback win

Tennis legend Venus Williams has confirmed her engagement to Italian-Danish actor Andrea Preti—news she shared moments after a victorious return to the court at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., marking her first singles win in 16 months.

After defeating 22-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets, the 45-year-old revealed to the cheering crowd: “My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing. There were so many times I just wanted to chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis?”

Williams’ comeback follows a challenging year. She had surgery in 2024 to remove fibroids—a condition that had severely impacted her health and training. “As bad as things were—crazy amounts of bleeding—my doctors told me it was normal,” she previously told NBC News. “No one should have to go through this.”

Speculation about her engagement began earlier this year when she was seen practicing in Italy with a large ring on her finger. Though Williams has typically kept her romantic life private, she and Preti were first spotted vacationing together on Italy’s Amalfi Coast in 2023.

Preti, 37, was born in Denmark and raised in Italy. According to Williams, this week’s match was his first time seeing her play live.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion reflected on her mindset after recovery: “Last year I was preparing for surgery. This year, I’m preparing for tournaments. It really put everything in perspective.”

Having spent most of her career single, Venus hinted back in 2022 that she was open to finding love. “I’ve had a single life for a long time,” she told Glamour, “but when life changes, you’ve got to know when to change.”

With her Citi Open victory, Williams became the oldest woman to win a WTA singles match since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 2004. Now, she says she’s simply “praying for good health” and enjoying every step of this new chapter—both on and off the court.