Venus Williams, 45, Is Engaged to Her Actor Boyfriend, 37 — Fans Can't Stop Talking About His Looks

The Tennis icon conquered courts around the world, but recently, it was something off-court that had fans doing a double-take, and it wasn't just her comeback win.

Tennis icon Venus Williams is officially off the market. The 45-year-old made the surprise announcement after securing her first singles win since 2023, and while fans were thrilled about her return to form, it was her fiancé who stole much of the spotlight.

In a candid moment shared by The Tennis Letter on X, Williams thanked her partner for being a driving force behind her comeback, "My fiancé is here. He really encouraged me to keep playing. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? It's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time."

Though she didn't exactly name in the clip, fans recognized her fiancé as Andrea Preti when the interviewer asked, "So how much has Andrea helped you in this comeback?" Supporters haven't stopped gushing since. On People Magazine's Facebook post, fans lit up the comments section with admiration. One fan said, "He looks like Tom Cruise here."

While another added, "Looks like Tom Cruise and Big Mike," someone else remarked, "She got a handsome one! I wish them both a lifetime of happiness together. Great couple." The compliments kept coming. One comment read, "He's handsome!!!" while another person stated, "He's cute. Lucky guy."

A few fans drew comparisons to other familiar faces, with one saying, "Looks like her sister's husband," and another simply noting, "You are looking amazing." On People's Instagram, the reaction was just as lively. One person wrote, "Hes [sic] handsome but also scary looking," while another commented, "Handsome , congratulations, [sic]"

According to a report by People Magazine, Williams and Preti were first publicly seen together on July 27, 2024, enjoying a sunny boat ride along the Amalfi Coast in Nerano, Italy. The sighting came just weeks after Venus appeared onstage at the 2024 ESPYS alongside her sister Serena, who hosted the event.

The engagement rumors reportedly began circulating months later when Williams was spotted training in Rome, wearing what looked like a wedding band on her left ring finger.

The diamond ring, a square-cut stone set in a pavé band, sparked speculation as she practiced her swings with Preti looking on from the sidelines. In between drills, the couple was reportedly seen holding hands, laughing, and exchanging kisses. At one point, Williams rested her head on Preti's shoulder, and the two later left the tennis club hand-in-hand.

Rome wasn't their only romantic escape. Reportedly, the couple had previously been photographed walking through New York City, enjoying another vacation in the Bahamas, and sharing quiet moments that hinted at a serious relationship. Williams was also reported to have posted a photo of them together on her Instagram story, with the caption, "the best company."

While Williams has generally kept her private life out of the headlines, this new relationship marks a meaningful shift. After reportedly dating Cuban model Elio Pis in 2012 and Nicholas Hammond in 2017, she remained mostly single. People Magazine reports that, in a 2021 interview with Cosmopolitan, she said she wasn't eager to settle down.

She said, "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," adding that her friends say she'll miss her window, but she doesn't feel that way.

By 2022, her mindset had begun to evolve. Speaking to Glamour UK, she reportedly admitted that transitioning out of a long single life came with its challenges, "I've had a single life for a long time and I think it's really easy to get stuck in a single life and sometimes – at least for me – harder to get out," adding, "It makes you think about yourself and what you want and how to behave."

Preti, her fiancé, has also led an interesting path. Born in Denmark, he moved to Italy as a teenager, where his family introduced him to the fashion world. His early success as a top model enabled a smooth transition into acting, which he pursued by enrolling at the Susan Batson Academy in New York City.

Since then, he's built a multifaceted career in television and film. In 2014, Preti wrote, directed, and starred in his first feature film, "One More Day." He followed that with "The Wolf Man," a short film exploring human duality, in which a wolf transforms into a man each day.

His third project, a historical drama set in 1800s southern Italy, addresses homophobia and calls for greater acceptance of human diversity. His fourth film, "Animals," blends action with emotional depth, combining elements of love, loss, and adrenaline.

With a supportive partner by her side, a career still going strong, and fans rooting for her on and off the court, Williams is entering a new and radiant chapter in her life.