Venus Williams, 45, Reveals Engagement with Exclusive, Unseen Photos

For an athlete long defined by discipline and composure, the tennis icon has rarely opened the door to her personal world. But two recent revelations — each shared quietly — hinted that something in her story has begun to shift.

Venus Williams posted a set of striking photos on December 2, 2025 —a move that immediately drew widespread attention and left fans wondering what she was about to reveal. The answer was in the post's caption.

At 45, the tennis legend officially announced her engagement on social media with a soft yet striking post that left no room for doubt. Alongside the carousel of previously unseen photographs filled with warmth and tenderness, Williams captioned it, "Engaged 1/31/25💫."

A Tender Glimpse Inside Williams's Private World

Among the emotional images, one stood out in black and white — a close-up of Williams and her fiancé, Italian actor and filmmaker Andrea Preti, locked in a quiet moment of connection. He rested his forehead gently against hers as she closed her eyes, radiating peace. The tight framing invited viewers into a space rarely shared by the famously private star — one of intimate affection and mutual trust.

Another frame captured a joyful, sunlit scene: Williams and Preti, both in white, cuddled their gray-and-white dog in a lush garden. Preti kissed the dog on the head as Williams held it close, smiling softly. The moment glowed with familial ease, comfort, and love. As soon as the post dropped, comments began pouring in within minutes.

Fans Flood Williams's Social Media With Reactions

Fans quickly flooded Williams's comments section and Facebook page with excitement, admiration, and several playful comparisons to Serena Williams's husband, Alexis Ohanian. One Instagrammer celebrated the moment and wrote, "He hit the jackpot! Lucky guy!❤️😍 Wishing you both a fantastic life together."

Another commenter remarked, "Looks similar to Serenas husband." A different fan also noted the resemblance and said, "He looks like Alexis interesting."

On Facebook, one commenter echoed the sentiment and wrote, "Y'all definitely got a type." Another Facebooker took it further, claiming, "He looks just like Alexis actually."

One fan added a more comparative angle and commented, "He looks like Serena's husband but better ." Another fan teased Venus over the timing of the reveal and wrote, "Lol it took you 11 months to finally tell us??"

While Williams has long kept her off-court life guarded, her engagement reveal, paired with the soft, emotional photos, offered a rare, candid look at her relationship with Preti. The announcement also marked one of the few times the 45-year-old star has publicly shared details about her romantic life.

A Comeback Fueled by Love

As Williams's engagement announcement continued to captivate fans online, a related moment from her return to competition in July 2025 offered even more insight into how deeply Preti has been woven into this new chapter of her life.

In a candid moment shared on X by one of the tennis media platforms, 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," she remarked.

Online Praise Reaches a Fever Pitch

Though she didn't exactly name her fiancé in the clip, fans recognized her fiancé as Preti when the interviewer asked, "So how much has Andrea helped you in this comeback?" Fans quickly connected the dots — and the swooning resumed. On Facebook, fans lit up the comments section with admiration. One fan wrote, "He looks like Tom Cruise here."

Someone else remarked, "She got a handsome one! I wish them both a lifetime of happiness together. Great couple." The compliments didn't stop as one comment read, "He's handsome!!!" while another 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 Instagram, the reaction was just as lively. One person penned, "Hes [sic] handsome but also scary looking," while another commented, "Handsome , congratulations, [sic]."

A Romance That Traveled the World Before Reaching the Spotlight

Before confirming their relationship, Williams and Preti were 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 Williams appeared onstage at the 2024 ESPYS alongside her sister Serena, who hosted the event.

Then, engagement rumors reportedly began circulating in early 2025 when Williams was spotted training in Rome, wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring on her left hand.

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 the two 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 single for the most part.

Preti, her fiancé, has 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. 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.

As Williams steps into this new season — supported by Preti, energized in her career, and embraced by fans who have watched her evolve in real time — her next chapter feels both grounded and luminous. After years of guarding her private world, she now appears ready to write it on her own terms, inviting the public in just enough to celebrate the joy she's found.