The 45-year-old tennis legend Venus Williams announced in a post-match interview during the 2021 Mubadala DC Citi Open in Washington, D.C., revealing that she's ready to say "I do" with the Italian actor and producer Andrea Preti. After weeks of hushed murmurs and the bling on her left hand not going unnoticed, Venus fed the people what they were waiting for.
"My fiancé is here, and he wanted me to continue playing," she said with a wide smile, a moment that had the personal and professional combining in the most Venus way imaginable: honest, raw, and real.
Check Out this Article: 6ix9ine Admits to MDMA and Cocaine Violation, Could Face 5 Years Behind Bars
The pair were first seen on the romantic Amalfi Coast in Italy in July 2024, looking every bit the off-duty power couple. But rumors of something more serious began to circulate as early as February when eagle-eyed fans spotted Venus wearing a diamond ring on that finger.
The famously tight-lipped Venus, who has long been mysterious about her love life, didn't hesitate to give Andrea Preti, 37, credit for inspiring her to keep grinding on the court, no small feat, considering the reality of doing so at the highest level for nearly three decades.
"There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill," Venus added, pulling back the curtain on just how demanding professional tennis remains. "Do you know how difficult it is to play tennis? You guys don't even know how hard we work at this, it's like nine to five except you're running the entire time. It's lifting weights and then dying, and you do it again the next day."
That's the virtual, collective nod of every athlete who's ever wondered whether she could eke out one more set. Venus's words were more about vulnerability, less about venting something she's always balanced so gracefully with strength. And this time, she said, that strength was fortified by love.
Preti has never actually seen her play in person until now, but she has made an impression that goes far beyond the sidelines. There are no wedding details just yet, and in Venus fashion, she's keeping all the spotlight on her game and her grind, for now.
For those of you scoring at home, this is not Venus's first high-profile romance. She's previously been linked to pro golfer Hank Kuehne and publishing heir Nicholas Hammond. But this chapter has a shining of a different sort.
0 Comments