Venus Williams has shared stunning photos of when she and now-husband Andrea Preti first got engaged earlier in 2025.<\/p>\n
Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams<\/a>, one of the greatest players of all time, returned to tennis in 2025 after a 15-month absence from the game.<\/p>\n The year proved to be a hugely successful one on the court, with the 45-year-old memorably beating Peyton Stearns in her first match back at the Washington Open in July<\/a>.<\/p>\n Williams would then impress in a three-set loss to 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the opening round of the US Open, while reaching the quarter-final of the doubles event alongside Leylah Fernandez.<\/p>\n However, the year has also proven to be a special one off the court, due to her relationship with Preti, an Italian film star<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pair reportedly met in 2024 and, speaking on court following her victory over Stearns in Washington, paid tribute to the Italian \u2014 while also confirming they were engaged.<\/p>\n \u201cMy fianc\u00e9 is here, and he really encouraged me to keep playing,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis?<\/p>\n Tennis News<\/p>\n British ATP star gets engaged to \u2018best friend\u2019 who initially \u2018just wasn\u2019t interested\u2019 in him<\/a><\/p>\n Former French Open runner-up reveals her engagement to boyfriend labelled a \u2018fashion legend\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYou guys don\u2019t know how much work goes into this, like it\u2019s 9 to 5 except you\u2019re running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying, and then you repeat it the next day.<\/p>\n \u201cSo he encouraged me to get through this, and it\u2019s wonderful to be here. He\u2019s never seen me play.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams and Preti have now officially tied the knot, with the two marrying in an intimate ceremony on the Italian island of Ischia this September<\/a>.<\/p>\n Neither Williams nor Preti has previously posted too much about their relationship online or on social media, and they have made limited public appearances together.<\/p>\n However, the former world No 1 has now shared a small set of special photos of her and Preti from their engagement, which she confirmed took place on January 31, 2025.<\/p>\n The intimate photos show Williams and the Italian together in a garden setting, with the 45-year-old wearing a white dress from Prada.<\/p>\n One of the photos also includes Williams\u2019 famous dog, Harry, who turned 18 in 2025.<\/p>\n Williams\u2019 post on Instagram drew a quick reaction from many in the tennis community, with Caroline Wozniacki and Coco Gauff among those commenting on the post.<\/p>\n The 45-year-old has not returned to court following the hard-court summer, which saw her play in Washington, Cincinnati, and New York.<\/p>\n However, she has already been confirmed for a return to the court in 2026, with the tennis icon set to play at the Auckland Open in New Zealand in January.<\/p>\n Williams\u2019 decision to head to the WTA 250 event suggests she will also be eyeing up a campaign at the Australian Open.<\/p>\n She was a finalist at the tournament in 2003 and 2017 \u2014 beaten by sister Serena<\/a> on both occasions \u2014 and made her first appearance at the event back in 1998, with her most recent appearance coming in 2021.<\/p>\n