Venus Williams is back—stronger and even smiling, and now engaged.
The 45-year-old tennis icon returned to professional action after 16 months away from the court due to surgery and health setbacks. She didn’t just show up—she won.
In her first match back, Venus paired with rising American star Hailey Baptiste to defeat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and teenager Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 at the DC Open.
“Hailey asked me how it felt afterward. Honestly, it’s probably harder coming back through doubles because it’s not my usual game,” she said.
“But having her alongside me helped a lot. She’s been playing regularly and performing well, and that gave us momentum.”
“It’s night and day compared to last year,” Venus added. “Back then, I wasn’t even thinking about tennis — I just wanted to heal.”
Singles Victory, Love Off the Court
Just 24 hours later, Venus stepped into singles action and stunned 22-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
That win marked her first singles victory since Cincinnati 2023. But it wasn’t just about tennis this time.
After the match, Venus surprised fans with a joyful confession.
“My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” she said as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Her fiancé is 37-year-old actor Andrea Preti, who she credited for standing by her during recovery.
“There were so many times I just wanted to chill,” she said, smiling. “Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? It’s like 9 to 5, but you’re running the whole time.”
Venus praised him for pushing her when the training felt endless.
“Lifting weights and just like dying — and then you repeat it the next day. He encouraged me to get through this,” she said. “He’s never seen me play. It’s wonderful to be here.”
Rumours of the engagement first started when Venus was spotted training in Italy with a sparkling ring earlier in the year.
Preti, born in Denmark, moved to Italy as a teenager and works as an actor and model. According to IMDb, he has appeared in several Italian film projects.
On the Road Again — One Match at a Time
The DC crowd was electric. About 3,000 fans watched her doubles comeback, including NBA superstar Kevin Durant.
“I was like, ‘Let me show KD what I’ve got,’” Venus joked. “But they hit every ball to Hailey!”
Baptiste echoed the joy. “It’s so cool that he came out to support us,” she said. The chants of “K-D” brought energy to the match.
The moment Venus Williams won her first tour-level singles match since August 2023 👑⤵️#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/DCzAgJBGyY
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 23, 2025
Even her opponent, Eugenie Bouchard, who retires next week, had warm words.
“It’s always special to play Venus,” Bouchard said. “She’s 14 years older than me and still out here. She’s a legend.”
Venus will now face world No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech of Poland. Frech, 27, is in top form, and the match promises intensity.
But Venus isn’t chasing records. She’s playing with something deeper.
“You can play all the matches in the world, but if your health is gone, everything else fades,” she said.
“That puts things in perspective. It made coming back easier, and now I’m playing with more freedom.”
For a woman with five Wimbledon trophies and two US Opens, this moment is different. It’s not just about victory. It’s about resilience, joy — and love.
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