In a surprising turn of events, tennis superstar Venus Williams has tied the knot twice in 2025, first in Italy and then in Florida, confirming a romance that began on a Milan runway.
The Double Wedding
Williams and former actor-model Andrea Preti were married on September 18 in Ischia, Italy, and later had a courthouse ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, over the weekend. “We had this dream to do our wedding in Italy,” Williams told Vogue. “But we didn’t have enough time to do the paperwork – because I’m a foreigner, it can take about eight months. So we decided to have a second wedding.”
How They Met
The couple first crossed paths at a Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week in 2024. Preti told Vogue, “I saw V and wanted to introduce myself. She was on the sofa with her friends and family. I told her, ‘You’re so beautiful,’ and then she started speaking with me in Italian. We had a little talk, and I asked if she wanted a drink. I went to the bar to get something, and her sister Lyn came to me and said, ‘Do you mind if we start a WhatsApp conversation? I think my sister likes you.”
From that initial encounter the pair met again in England, and Williams said she “knew I was going to marry him” after London dates. “We wanted to be discreet at the time, but he really took care of me,” she added.
Engagement and Support
On July 22, after her first singles match in more than a year, Williams revealed her engagement to Preti while speaking to the WTA. She wore a diamond ring on her left finger and called him her fiancé. “My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” Williams said. “There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don’t know how much work goes into this, like it’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time, lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day.”
She added, “So he encouraged me to get through this, and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play.”
Andrea Preti’s Background
Preti was born June 6, 1988, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is now 37. As a teenager he moved with his family to Italy, where he was introduced to fashion. He pursued modeling full-time, with his first job for Gucci and runway work for John Richmond at Milan Fashion Week in Spring/Summer 2013 and Autumn/Winter 2013. He said, “I never dreamed of doing fashion. My parents push me to do that. In the beginning, I went to several agencies showing my photos, but they were so bad that I was not even considered. Then my father let me introduce myself to Domenico Zambelli, he carried me by Bruno, from the D Management, who told me these words: ‘The pictures are disgusting, but I believe in you.’ And from there it all started. However, I owe it all to Domenico.”
He has modeled for Dolce & Gabbana, Moncler, and Corneliani, and attended the Gucci Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 show in Milan in June 2024, sitting front-row.
After modeling, Preti moved to New York City to study acting at the Susan Baston Academy. His IMDb page lists work in film, television, and commercials, and credits such as “One More Day” (2015), “Detective per Caso” (2018), “My Beloved Enemy” (2018, producer), “Girls to Buy” (2021), “Temptation” (2023), and the 2021 TV series “A Professor.”
Public Sightings
The pair were spotted together in July 2024 on a boat ride in Nerano on the Amalfi Coast, according to People. In June, Preti posted a Tommy Hilfiger modeling campaign on Instagram; Williams replied in the comments with “le mien,” and Preti answered “si.” These moments hint at a multilingual, playful dynamic.
Key Takeaways
- Venus Williams married Andrea Preti twice in 2025, first in Italy and then in Florida.
- The couple met at a Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week 2024 and confirmed their engagement on July 22.
- Preti’s career spans modeling for top houses, acting studies in New York, and film and TV production.
The story first appeared on TODAY.com, detailing how the tennis champion’s love life has evolved from a runway encounter to a double wedding and a public partnership that blends sport, fashion, and acting.
