Venus Williams Confirms Engagement to Actor Andrea Preti

Tennis legend Venus Williams has officially confirmed her engagement to Italian actor and model Andrea Preti to the shock—and delight—of millions worldwide. The announcement came on July 23, 2025 and is a wonderful beginning to an amazing comeback year for the 44-year-old professional tennis star.

For years, Williams has been a private person, separate and distinct from her on-court accomplishments. She has not previously disclosed much at all about former relationships. To this extent, this engagement is surprising not only in that no one would have predicted that Serena would become engaged, but it is also notable because she is not casually engaged but seriously engaged in a rare public moment from a sporting legend who initially established her status upon values of grace, purposefulness, and independence.

In this coverage, we will unpack everything you need to know about this significant announcement.

Who is Andrea Preti?

Andrea Preti is a 36-year-old Italian Actor, Designer & Filmmaker, who was born in Milan, Italy. Left wilde the world first saw Preti as a model before switching to acting and finally directing provides further evidence of this evolution. Preti became known to the general public by being on Isola dei Famosi, Italy's version of Survivor.

In recent years, he has mostly directed his work toward film and television and was primarily working in Europe, and he also has a small creative agency that created independent films. While he has not been well-known in the U.S., up to this point, this engagement with Venus took his work to a much larger audience.

Preti's friends describe him as thoughtful, artistic, and very private, all qualities that closely align with the Venus character.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Andrea Preti (@andreapreti88)

How Long Have They Been Together?

Although the engagement announcement was only released, Venus and Andrea are said to have been quietly dating for more than one year.

According to sources who are close to the couple, their relationship emerged as a natural progression toward their shared love of wellness, their mutual interests in the arts, and their goal of living a relatively low-key lifestyle. They have traveled together many times and have been a transcontinental couple for a good part of the time, spending time across Europe and the United States, but purposely kept their relationship private.

The ability for any couple to stay out of the press is remarkable, but what stands out in this situation is how serious both Venus and Andrea took the concept of privacy.

Where and When Is The Wedding? 

Venus and Andrea have confirmed that both are engaged, but the couple has yet to confirm the details regarding their wedding. 

There are strong rumors of a private wedding for September 2025, possibly in Italy given Andrea's Italian family roots and if they do hold their wedding in Italy, it could be at a countryside estate or historic villa. 

The wedding guest list and location is yet to be confirmed but sources say the guest list will be minimal with only family and close friends.

Venus Williams on her fiancées support after getting 1st singles win since 2023

“My fiancée is here. He really encouraged me to keep playing. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? It’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time” 😭😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/iEb9gls5kP

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 23, 2025

Why This Engagement Is a Big Deal

Venus Williams has been a trailblazer in living intentionally and independently, both as a professional and personally. At 44, Venus remains unmarried and has been open in the past that she never felt pressure from societal expectations. 

The fact she is tying the knot now, on her own timeline in her own way, connects with people across generations and speaks to a growing paradigm shift in our views of relationship, success, and personal milestones.

This engagement is not just gossip, but a moment that invokes themes of empowerment, stepping into maturity, and embracing her power and right to determine her happiness on her terms.

How Did the Proposal Happen?

While Venus has not disclosed details about how she was proposed to, sources close to the couple described it as a "deeply personal and meaningfully" profound experience.

Though there was no large media event to announce the engagement, and no loud, guagdy display, sources indicating that it was in a quiet, manner that was indicative of the coupler's willingness to keep their relationship private and down to earth. 

Venus Williams was spotted at a tennis training session in Rome under the watchful eye of her Italian beau, Andrea Preti.

The pair arrived at Due Ponti Sports Club, sharing a kiss and hugging, with a sparkling ring adorning Venus' engagement finger, before heading to the court… pic.twitter.com/zRcNGrDnns

— backgridus (@BackgridUS) February 7, 2025

How did the Public Respond?

From fans to celebrities, social media is full of congratulatory messages. Venus has not yet posted on her own page about the engagement, but confirmation from her team has made this news blow up on social media.

Fans are particularly excited because the news comes on the heels of a whole year of the biggest success story for Venus (returning to competitive tennis after not only injury, but also speculation about retirement).

What's Next for Venus Williams?

Venus has a wedding to plan, but she seems keen to keep pushing forward in tennis. She is clear she has tennis aspirations, still somewhere lodged with her active and competitive life, no matter how much improvement there is later for better results.

Despite her age of 44, she is continuously challenging expectations by showing age is irrelevant in respect to the limits of ambition and athletic achievement. Whether she flies further down the tennis road for full seasons to come, or whether she decides to shift gradually to her life after tennis, does not matter to eager fans. They're ready for what comes next today. 

About the Couple’s Lifestyle

Both Venus and Andrea are noted for their high levels of discipline when it comes to their vocations, and it seems this discipline also applies to their relationship.

They supposedly share a passion for:

• Wellness & Fitness
• Film, Art & Design
• Traveling & Experiencing Culture
• Living a balanced and spiritual lifestyle

According to their friends, their relationship is based on respect and empathy, with neither trying to bask in media exposure or seek attention or notoriety as an end unto itself.

Venus Williams and Andrea Preti share a peck while taking pictures at the DSQUARED2 photo call for tonight’s fall 2025 runway show in Milan. pic.twitter.com/lmB4ACK8Zn

— WWD (@wwd) February 25, 2025

Why This Story is Important

This isn’t just a celebrity engagement; this is the story of two successful people finding partnership and love later in life and just the way they want to! In a world where relationships run so fast and are documented so readily, the slow and purposeful nature of Venus and Andrea's relationship is nice to see.

Story is also a reminder that happiness and success don't often fit on one timeline. Whether you're a tennis fan or not, this story includes something universal: hope, timing, and the realization that love can find you when you are ready, not when the world says the time is right.

Final Thoughts

Venus Williams’s engagement to Andrea Preti represents a new chapter in her remarkable life. As a champion in the sporting, Venus has always pushed the envelope and challenged the conventions—not only regarding tennis, but in her own, life, independence and now, love.

The couple is only starting on their journey as a couple, but one thing is certain: theirs is a relationship one based on mutual respect, shared attitudes about life, and their own self-awareness. Fans and devotees around the world will happily be seeing Venus take this next step—off the court, and into an exciting new chapter of her life.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): people.com