Wait, did she actually get married? That’s the question everyone was asking in late 2025 when the news broke that Venus Williams had finally tied the knot with Italian actor Andrea Preti. But before the double weddings in Italy and Florida, and long before she was "very single" and joking about being "undateable" on ESPN, there was Nicholas Hammond.
Most people remember him as "Nicky," the guy who was constantly in the family box during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He wasn't just some random guest. He was the one who seemed to finally match the quiet, powerhouse energy of a woman who has spent decades dominating a sport while keeping her private life in a vault. Nicholas Hammond and Venus Williams weren't just a "rumored" couple; they were a serious, two-year partnership that left fans wondering if the tennis legend had finally found "the one."
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But then, it just... ended.
The Heir and the Icon: How It All Started
Nicky Hammond wasn't your typical celebrity boyfriend. He didn't need Venus’s fame, and he certainly didn't need her money. He’s a scion of the Annenberg family—basically publishing royalty. His family owned Triangle Publications, the empire behind TV Guide and Seventeen magazine.
He’s about 12 years younger than Venus. Does that matter? Apparently not to them. They were first spotted together at the U.S. Open in 2017. He was tucked away in her family's box, looking like he belonged there. By the time Serena Williams married Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans later that year, Nicky was Venus’s official date.
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You’ve got to be pretty high-tier in the inner circle to score an invite to a Williams family wedding.
The "Friendship" Ring Heard Round the World
The rumors went into overdrive in early 2018. Venus was spotted at the Sydney Airport rocking a massive diamond band on that finger. Naturally, the internet collectively lost its mind. Was the seven-time Grand Slam champion engaged?
Nicky actually did something rare for a private financier: he spoke to the press. Well, barely. He told Page Six that they had a "firm commitment" to each other but that the ring was a "friendship ring."
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Honestly, who gives a diamond "friendship ring" to a global superstar? It felt like a classic case of a high-profile couple trying to keep the vultures at bay. They were traveling the world together, from the Australian Open to the Great Barrier Reef. They were "cuddled up" in New York restaurants. It looked like a lock.
Why the Relationship Eventually Hit the Brakes
In June 2019, the news dropped that it was over. Two years of dating, and then a quiet split.
Why? There’s a lot of speculation, but the most consistent word from insiders was that they just weren't on the same page about the future. Venus was approaching 40 at the time. There were reports that she was ready to settle down, while Nicky, who was only 27, wasn't quite there yet.
Other sources said the relationship simply "ran its course." It happens. You date, you travel, you realize you're different people, and you move on. They reportedly stayed friends, which says a lot about both of them.
Life After the Split
Venus didn't rush into anything else. For a few years, she was incredibly vocal about her independence. She told Cosmopolitan that she loved her life and didn't want to change it. She even joked on her YouTube channel, asking potential suitors what they would actually do for her.
It took until 2024 for her to go public with Andrea Preti. Looking back, the era of Nicholas Hammond and Venus Williams was a transitional period. It was a time when the world realized that Venus could be both a fierce competitor and a woman who values her privacy above all else.
What We Can Learn From the Nicky Hammond Era
If you’re looking for drama, you won't find much here. There were no messy Instagram deletions or public spats. Instead, it was a masterclass in how to handle a high-profile breakup.
- Privacy is a Choice: They proved you can date for years without every detail being leaked to the tabloids.
- Age is Just a Number (Until it Isn't): The 12-year gap didn't break them, but their different life stages eventually did.
- Friendship After Romance: Remaining on good terms with an ex is possible, even when the world is watching.
Venus Williams is now a married woman, and Nicholas Hammond has retreated back into the world of high finance and private estates. But for those two years, they were the "it" couple that nobody quite understood, yet everyone was rooting for.
If you're following Venus’s journey today, the best way to keep up is through her official channels or by watching her continued (and somehow still legendary) presence at major tournaments. She doesn't owe the world a glimpse into her home life, and that's exactly why we're all still so fascinated by her.
Check out her latest projects with Eleven by Venus Williams if you want to see how she’s channeling that same focus into the business world. It’s the same drive that kept her at the top of the rankings for decades.