MELBOURNE, Australia – Tennis icon Venus Williams is back on the grand stage of Melbourne Park, poised for her 22nd main-draw appearance at the Australian Open. But this return carries a new significance: she steps onto the court as a newly married woman, having tied the knot with model-actor Andrea Preti in a picturesque Palm Beach ceremony last month.
Williams, the former world No. 1, shared insights into this new chapter of her life during the Media Day press conference, with Preti watching supportively from the stands. For the 45-year-old champion, the wedding felt like the culmination of dedication, much like her return to elite competition.
The Celebration of Commitment
Addressing the media on Saturday, Williams framed her marriage not just as a single event, but as a celebration following a long period of commitment.
“Well, the day is a celebration,” Williams stated. “The commitment comes long before. It's kind of like getting here [to the Australian Open]. It's the celebration of arriving and getting to actually play. The training happens long before.”
The timing of the wedding followed her summer comeback, which was initially confirmed during the Mubadala Citi DC Open. Preti was present as Williams secured a first-round singles and doubles win at that tournament, marking a significant return after more than a year away from competitive play.
Following a September ceremony, the couple enjoyed a week-long celebration near their home base in Palm Beach, Florida. Williams previously described the event to Vogue as “beautiful, calm, sacred, exciting, and exalting.”
Intense Preparation Amidst Wedding Planning
Successfully navigating the dual demands of high-level tennis preparation and planning a major celebration required intense focus. Williams confirmed that between coordinating with planner Jennifer Zabinski of JZ Events, she maintained rigorous training schedules.
“Yeah, I was training nonstop those three months,” Williams admitted. “There were periods where I was super busy so I'd have to take a week off here or three days off there, but for the most part I was training and trying to get myself back in the groove.”
Williams accepted a wild card into the Australian Open, setting up a first-round clash against Olga Danilovic. While acknowledging the need to be patient with her match fitness following recent losses in the ASB Classic and Hobart International, her confidence in her fundamental game remains high.
“At this point, I need to be kind to myself, because I'm getting so many things right, but, you know, there had been a lack of playing matches,” she explained. “So, you know, I'm playing well. I'm setting myself up each point to win points and controlling the points. That's exactly how I'd want to play, and I'm playing the tennis I need to play.”
A New Era, The Same Mindset
Williams’s Australian Open debut dates back to 1998—a staggering span that predates the careers of many current competitors, including stars like Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva. Yet, despite the decades separating her first visit and her 22nd, the veteran insists her core approach remains unchanged.
“I'm definitely the same person. I definitely, like, I had my head on straight. It's still on pretty straight,” she remarked.
She reflected on the early days of her career, recognizing the advantage of youthful ignorance coupled with relentless drive. “It was a beautiful time, because there's so much I didn't know but there's a great thing of not knowing because it lets you have a clean slate. There was so much I needed to learn, and then I learned it.”
For Williams, the enduring lesson of professional sport transcends trophies; it lies in the daily application of effort.
“That's the thing about sport is you keep stepping up to the line, and while there is nothing to prove, it's all about the attitude and the effort. No one can control that. Controlling that part is really the win.”
As the first Grand Slam of 2026 commences, Venus Williams carries the joy of her recent marriage onto the Rod Laver Arena, determined to control the controllable—her effort, her attitude, and the points she plays—as she seeks to extend an unparalleled legacy in the sport.
