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Venus Williams husband news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Venus Williams lost 6-2, 7-6 (6) to Sofia Kenin at the US Open. Her husband Andrea Preti, whom she married in 2025, supported her comeback.
Background
Venus Williams, 46, is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion who has been playing professionally since the 1990s. She married Italian actor and director Andrea Preti in 2025 after meeting him in 2024. Williams has been dealing with health issues, including Sjögren's syndrome and uterine fibroids, and her husband encouraged her to continue playing tennis.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2024Venus Williams met Andrea Preti at a Gucci event during Milan Fashion Week in Lake Como.
- Jan 2025The couple got engaged.
- Sep 18, 2025They held their first wedding ceremony in Ischia, Italy.
- Dec 2025They held a second wedding ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida.
- Jul 2025Williams returned to competition at the Mubadala DC Open, winning her opening match, and credited Preti with motivating her return.
- Aug 31, 2026Williams lost to Sofia Kenin in the first round of the US Open, extending her losing streak to 15 matches. The match started at 12:13am, the latest start in US Open history.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Craig Tiley, US Open incoming tournament director, said Venus deserved a wildcard, calling her 'a magnificent champion, an American tennis icon.'
- Public
- Several thousand spectators remained to watch Williams play despite the late start, and she was described as the clear crowd favorite.
- Analysts
- Some questioned whether Williams' wildcard might have been better allocated to a younger player, noting the $140,000 first-round prize could be life-changing for lower-ranked players.