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American tennis legend, Venus Williams on Tuesday night etched her name in history books as she became the second oldest woman ever to win a tour level singles match. The oldest of the Williams sisters, Venus Williams turned back the clock at the DC Open as she defeated her 23-year-old opponent Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4, to become the second oldest woman in history to win a tour-level singles match.
Aged 45, Venus had not played a singles match since March 2024 after deciding to take time off for a surgery. But recently, coming into the DC Open as unranked player, she registered her first singles win since 2023 and went on to become second oldest, trailing Martina Navratilova, who has won a match at the age of 47 in 2004.
Venus Williams confirms relationship with actor Andrea Preti; opens up on his role on her return to tennis
On being asked of her return after an elongated break, Williams first confirmed her relationship status with 37-year-old actor and producer Andrea Preti. While she was lauded with loud cheers, she confirmed that they are engaged, further adding that he has played a pivotal role on her return to competitive tennis.
“My fiancee is here. He really encouraged me to keep playing. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don’t know how much work goes into this. It’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it in the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play,” Williams stated.
Speaking of her relationship, the couple kept their relation private over the past year, but rumours first grew out in July 2024 after they were spotted boating together in Nerano, Italy. The speculations went rife, after Venus Williams were spotted wearing a square-cut diamond ring at a training session in Rome. The couple then appeared together at Milan Fashion Week, further adding fuel to fire on their relation.
