- The 45-year-old defeated Peyton Stearns in straight sets at the Citi Open
- She had surgery last year to remove fibroids, which caused severe health issues
- Williams says Preti motivated her to return to tennis during recovery
Tennis legend Venus Williams has announced her engagement to actor Andrea Preti, just moments after winning her first singles match in 16 months at the Citi Open in Washington D.C.
The 45-year-old defeated 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets, marking a major comeback following surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus. Williams last played competitively in March 2024.
Speaking to the crowd after her win, she shared that Preti had played a pivotal role in her recovery and return to tennis.
“My fiancé is here, and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” she said to a cheering audience. “There were so many times I just wanted to relax and stop. Playing tennis is no joke—it’s a full-time grind.”
Preti, 37, reportedly proposed earlier this year, sparking speculation after Williams was spotted wearing a ring on her left hand during a training session in Italy in February. Although the couple kept their relationship mostly private, they were seen vacationing together on the Amalfi Coast last summer.
Originally from Denmark, Preti moved to Italy as a teenager and has since built a career in acting.
Williams has opened up recently about her health challenges. In July, she revealed that fibroids had caused severe symptoms, including extreme bleeding and pain, but doctors initially dismissed her concerns.
“As bad as things were… my doctors told me it was normal,” she told NBC News. “No one should have to go through this.”
Now back on court, Venus says she’s focusing on her health and playing with renewed perspective.
“Last year I was preparing for surgery. This year, I’m preparing for a tournament. It’s night and day,” she said. “It really puts things in perspective.”
Williams, who had remained single for much of her career, hinted in 2022 that she was ready to embrace a new chapter in her personal life.
“It’s easy to get stuck in a single life,” she told Glamour. “When life changes, you’ve got to know when to change too.”
On Tuesday, she became the oldest woman to win a WTA singles match since Martina Navratilova did so at Wimbledon in 2004 at age 47.
