In July 2024, we shared the news that Venus Williams was spotted on a boat in the Mediterranean off the coast of Italy with Italian actor Andrea Preti. Now, the 44-year-old tennis legend has sparked engagement rumors after being seen wearing a dazzling diamond ring on her engagement finger while training in Rome—with Preti by her side.
Although Williams and Preti have kept their relationship mostly out of the spotlight, recent photos have ignited rumors of an engagement. The striking diamond ring, adorned with a large square-cut center stone, was impossible to overlook. While neither Williams nor Preti has confirmed the speculation, Preti appeared every bit the devoted partner as he cheered her on courtside.
Roomies, are congrats in order? 👀 Venus Williams was spotted wearing a HUGE diamond ring during tennis training with her man! More EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: https://t.co/K31tB00AOC pic.twitter.com/9YboIhQ7NN
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) February 6, 2025
Preti, a 36-year-old actor known for his roles in the 2023 film Temptation and the 2021 TV series A Professor, and Williams have kept their personal lives under wraps, with the couple rarely seen together. Romance rumors sparked last summer when the two were spotted enjoying the sun in Nerano, Italy. Interestingly, Preti has ties to the tennis world, having previously been romantically linked to former WTA star Flavia Pennetta over a decade ago. Pennetta later married fellow tennis player Fabio Fognini, and the couple now shares three children.
Venus Williams’ past relationships have also attracted significant public attention. In 2008, rumors swirled about her possible engagement to golfer Hank Kuehne. Her most recent known relationship was with millionaire heir Nicholas Hammond, whom she began dating in 2017 before they reportedly parted ways in 2019. At the 2022 Oscars, where King Richard, the film about her childhood and rise to tennis stardom, was nominated in six categories, Venus casually confirmed that she was single. In a March 2022 Q&A video on her YouTube channel, she reiterated her single status and shared her insights on relationships.
As Venus continues to train and enjoy her time in Italy, fans will undoubtedly be watching closely for any official confirmation of wedding bells in her future. On the tennis front, she has yet to announce her official retirement, though her competitive appearances have become rare. Her most recent tournament was the Miami Open in March 2024, where she was eliminated in the first round. (source: The Shade Room)
