The tennis legend also opened up about how her actor fiancé has supported her ongoing career.

Wedding bells are ringing for Venus Williams. The 45-year-old tennis icon first generated engagement buzz back in February when she stepped out with not one, but two different diamond rings on her left hand over the span of a few weeks—and following her first singles match in over a year, she revealed that her actor-producer fiancé had indeed popped the question.

After serving up aces at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, DC on Tuesday, July 22, Williams confirmed she was engaged to Andrea Preti while opening up about how the One More Day actor has supported her continuing to pursue her tennis dreams. Catching up with Williams following her singles win—her first since 2023—interviewer and former tennis star Rennae Stubbs appeared to already be in the know about Williams’s updated relationship status.

“You are now an engaged woman. So, how has Andrea helped you in this comeback?” She asked her, noting, “You’re happy, a smile on your face. I mean, how much has he made a difference in your life?"

The seven-time Grand Slam winner—who has been romantically linked to the 37-year-old ex-model since last summer—couldn’t stop beaming as she shared rare comments about her fiancé. "My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing," she said, revealing that Preti had “never seen [her] play” before.

Williams also credited her beau for keeping her accountable with tennis, admitting, "There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don’t know how much work goes into this, like it’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time,” she shared. “Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here.”

Williams, who previously dated model Elio Pis and Nicky Hammond, has stayed mum about her relationship with Preti. Since debuting their romance on a yacht along the Amalfi Coast last July, the notoriously private couple has stepped out once together in February at Milan Fashion Week to watch the Dsquared2 Fall/Winter 2025 - 2026 runway.

While Williams has found her happily ever after, she told Cosmopolitan in 2021 that she wasn’t “desperate” to settle down with someone—and was looking for a special addition that would bring something more to her already fulfilling life.

“I have a lot of friends who don't believe me when I say that I like my life and I don't want to change it for any reason. I'm not desperate and they don't believe me," she told th epublication."They say things like, 'You're going to miss your window.' I'm like, 'Please, relax. You might feel this way, but I don't. I promise you I don't.”

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