Venus Williams Announces Her Engagement After Historic Singles Win At DC Open
Venus Williams returned to tennis after 16 months, winning at the DC Open and announcing her engagement to Andrea Preti.
Venus Williams' return to professional tennis after a 16-month absence came with more than just a win—it came with a surprise off-court announcement: she's engaged.
Following her historic singles victory at the DC Open, the 45-year-old tennis legend thanked her fiancé, Andrea Preti, who was cheering from the stands. Preti is a Danish-born Italian model and actor, according to IMDb.
A Record-Breaking Comeback
Williams made headlines by becoming the second-oldest woman in history to win a tour-level singles match, joining the ranks of Martina Navratilova, who achieved a similar feat in 2004. In her opening round at the DC Open, Williams defeated fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4, in a 97-minute match.
The win was Williams' 819th career WTA singles victory and marked her first singles triumph since returning to the tour. She had already claimed a doubles win on Monday before exiting in the second round of doubles play on Wednesday.
Williams, never short on charisma, delivered a tongue-in-cheek explanation for her comeback: 'I had to come back for the insurance," she joked, referencing the perks of staying active on the tour.
Her victory also solidified her place in history, as no woman aged 45 or older had won a WTA singles match in more than 20 years.
Meanwhile, excitement continues to build for the U.S. Open's newly revamped mixed doubles event, with Venus Williams set to participate. The entry list, released Monday, features several high-profile pairings.
Williams will team up with Reilly Opelka, while recent Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova is partnering with Danish standout Holger Rune. The expanded format is expected to draw more attention to the mixed doubles draw at Flushing Meadows.
Williams is scheduled to face Poland's Magdalena Frech in the second round of singles at the DC Open on Thursday night as she continues her inspiring return to top-level competition.
(with AP inputs)
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