Venus Williams on marriage and her Australian Open return
Back in Melbourne for her first Australian Open appearance since 2021, Venus Williams is competing at the tournament for the 22nd time, and for the first time as a married woman.
The former world No. 1 tied the knot with Andrea Preti in a Palm Beach ceremony last month, before turning her attention back to tennis.
“Well, the day is a celebration,” Williams said during Media Day, with Preti watching from the stands. “The commitment comes long before. It’s kind of like getting here. It’s the celebration of arriving…. “It’s just our opportunity to celebrate with family and friends and to create lasting memories.”
Williams first confirmed her engagement last summer at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, marking her return to competition after more than a year away. Preti accompanied her during that comeback, where she won a round in both singles and doubles at age 45.
The couple officially married following a September ceremony, hosting a week long celebration near their home in Palm Beach, Florida. Speaking to Vogue in December, Williams reflected on the experience.
“I can’t describe how beautiful, calm, sacred, exciting, and exalting it was,” she said. “It was just a dream.”
Despite the whirlwind off court, Williams said her preparation for the Australian Open remained a priority. She accepted a wild card into the main draw and resumed full training while balancing wedding plans.
“Yeah, I was training nonstop those three months,” Williams said. “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.”
She added that patience has been important as she works her way back into match play.
“I’m playing well. I’m setting myself up at each point to win points and control the points. That’s exactly how I’d want to play.”she said.
Williams warmed up for Melbourne with appearances at the ASB Classic and Hobart International, narrowly losing both matches. Still, she believes the building blocks are in place.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion first competed at the Australian Open in 1998, long before the current generation of stars arrived. Yet Williams insists her mindset remains unchanged.
“I’m definitely the same person,” she said. “I had my head on straight. It’s still on pretty straight. “That’s the thing about sport, you keep stepping up to the line. 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.”
Williams will put that mindset to the test on Sunday night when she faces Olga Danilovic in the first round at the Australian Open, with the match scheduled as the second night session on John Cain Arena.
