At 45 years old, Venus Williams tied the knot for the first time, marrying Italian actor and model Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, Florida, last weekend. The 7-time Grand Slam champion revealed to Vogue magazine that her sister Serena gifted her a yacht, which served as a venue to host some wedding guests.

"Serena also handled everything, from food and drinks to decorations," Venus added. "We invited about 12 close relatives and friends aboard the yacht to sing, dance, and share stories."

Before the Florida ceremony, Venus and Preti had a wedding in Italy in September. They then welcomed members of the groom's family to the US before Christmas for the second celebration. During the Florida ceremony, Venus read her vows in both English and Italian.

"When I met Venus, she was as beautiful as a goddess. I cried with happiness," Preti said. "Indeed, we are married, and it is a dream come true."

Venus met Preti at a fashion event in Milan in 2024, an event she admitted she only agreed to attend with her sister Serena at the last minute. At that time, Venus had been single for six years, having separated from her former boyfriend Nicholas Hammond in 2018.

"After our meeting in Milan, we had dinner in London, and that's when I knew I would marry him," Venus shared. "I just knew it naturally; perhaps my intuition told me."

Venus and Preti got engaged in July, shortly after she won her comeback match at the Washington Open. That match marked Venus's first competition in 16 months, following surgery to remove uterine fibroids. Preti played a crucial role in encouraging Venus to return to the court, secure a victory, and bid farewell to her fans.

"Playing professional tennis is extremely challenging for someone over 40," Venus explained. "Do you know who urged me to train from 9 h to 5 h every day? It was Preti who helped me push through grueling weightlifting sessions. Preti had never seen me play live on court, and I decided to make a comeback to give him that opportunity."

Born in 1980, Venus Williams emerged as a world-leading tennis player in the 2000s. She reached the finals of all four Grand Slams, winning the US Open 2 times and Wimbledon 5 times.

Vy Anh