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Venus Williams has spent decades dodging questions about her personal life. For years, the standard answer was that she was "single and loving it." She famously told Cosmopolitan back in 2021 that she wasn't desperate to settle down and actually liked her freedom. But things changed fast. If you haven't been keeping up, the tennis legend is officially off the market. Venus Williams and Andrea Preti are now married, and honestly, the way it all went down was kind of a whirlwind.
They didn't just have one wedding; they had two. One in Italy and a massive five-day extravaganza in Florida.
It’s the kind of story that feels like a movie script. A chance meeting in Milan. A secret engagement in the Tuscan hills. A public reveal on a tennis court in D.C. If you’re wondering how an Italian actor-producer managed to sweep one of the greatest athletes of all time off her feet, you aren't alone.
The Meet-Cute at Milan Fashion Week
Most people think these two met through mutual friends or some high-end dating app. Nope. It was actually a total accident. They both ended up at a Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week in 2024, and neither of them had originally planned to be there.
They started talking at a VIP after-party. Apparently, the spark was pretty much instantaneous. It wasn't just Venus who was impressed, either. Shortly after they started seeing each other, Preti had to pass the ultimate "vibe check": breakfast with Venus’s mom, Oracene, and her sisters, Lyndrea and Isha, in London.
He passed.
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Venus told Vogue that after those first few dates in London, she just knew. "People always say they just know, and I just knew," she said. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability for a woman who has spent her life being a "rock" for everyone else, especially her sister Serena.
Why Venus Williams and Andrea Preti Kept It Secret
For about a year, the public was basically operating on rumors. We saw them on a boat in Nerano, Italy, in July 2024. Then there were sightings in the Bahamas in early 2025.
But Venus stayed quiet.
The first real clue came in February 2025 when she showed up at a training session in Rome with a massive diamond on that finger. Then she wore a different ring to the Dsquared2 show in Milan. The internet went into a tailspin, but the official word didn't come until July 22, 2025.
After winning a singles match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Venus finally spilled the beans. During her post-match interview with Rennae Stubbs, she thanked her "fiancé" in the stands. She credited Preti with being the reason she didn't just "coast and chill" during her injury recovery.
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"My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing. There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kinda chill... It’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time."
The Two-Wedding Strategy
Why two weddings? It basically came down to red tape. They wanted to get married in Italy first, but because Venus is a foreigner, the paperwork was going to take about eight months to process.
- The Italy Ceremony: They went ahead with a ceremony on September 18, 2025, in Ischia, Italy. It was stunning, but not "official" in the legal sense.
- The Florida Marathon: To make it legal and celebrate with their full circle, they threw a five-day bash in Palm Beach in December 2025.
The Florida wedding was intense. We're talking 14 different bridal looks for Venus. Serena Williams even organized a luxury yacht party to kick things off. There was a boudoir-themed bridal shower and a Beyoncé-themed lip-sync battle.
On December 19, 2025, they finally did the boring legal part at a courthouse in Miami. Preti called it the "second-best day" of his life—ranking only behind the actual big wedding celebration.
Who Exactly Is Andrea Preti?
If you aren't deep into the Italian film scene, the name might not ring a bell. Andrea Preti is 37—about eight years younger than Venus. He was born in Denmark but moved to Italy as a teenager.
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He's a bit of a multi-hyphenate:
- Actor: Known for the Italian series A Professor and the film One More Day.
- Producer/Writer: He’s got several credits on IMDb and even directed a film called Temptation.
- Model: He started his career on the runway, which explains why he looks so comfortable next to Venus at fashion shows.
While Venus has a net worth north of $95 million, Preti’s is estimated at around $1 million. Some people like to point out the wealth gap, but honestly, it doesn't seem to matter to them. He’s been her loudest cheerleader during her 2025 comeback. He even designed the wedding jewelry himself alongside Maria Marchegiani.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Venus is retiring now that she's a "wife." That couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, she’s currently playing her 33rd consecutive season on the WTA Tour. She just competed at the 2026 Australian Open, setting a record as the oldest woman to ever play in the main draw.
She hasn't slowed down her business ventures either. Between her design firm, V Starr, and her interior design work, she’s as busy as ever. If anything, having Preti in her corner seems to have given her a second wind.
She also made sure her 18-year-old dog, Harry, was part of the wedding festivities. That tells you everything you need to know about her priorities. She isn't changing her life for a man; she’s found someone who fits into the life she already loved.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Followers
If you’re looking to keep up with the couple or apply some of Venus’s "late-bloomer" romantic wisdom to your own life, here’s the takeaway:
- Protect Your Privacy: You don’t owe anyone an explanation of your relationship until you’re ready. Venus waited nearly a year to confirm hers.
- Don't Rush: Venus waited until 45 to get married for the first time. She ignored the "biological clock" pressure and did it on her own terms.
- Watch the 2026 Met Gala: Venus is co-chairing the event this year alongside Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman. Expect Andrea Preti to be right there on the red carpet with her.
- Follow the Tour: If you want to see them together, look for Andrea in the player's box during the upcoming 2026 hard-court season. He’s rarely missed a match since they went public.
Venus Williams and Andrea Preti prove that you don't have to choose between a legendary career and a happy personal life. You just have to find someone who's willing to run the "9 to 5" with you.