Venus Williams’ Diamond Ring Sparks Engagement Buzz

Venus Williams and her Italian boyfriend Andrea Preti turned heads with their public display of affection during an appearance in Rome, but it was the athlete’s diamond sparkler on “that” finger that got fans talking.

Venus and Preti first sparked rumors of a relationship in July 2024 after they were spotted enjoying a boating excursion while she vacated in Nerano, Italy.

If their recent outing is anything to go by, the couple looks to have taken things a step further, though this isn’t the first time the tennis star has sparked engagement rumors.

On Wednesday, Venus and Preti were at the Due Ponti sports club in Rome, where she practiced tennis on one of the courts.

The seven-time Grand Slam arrived at the sports center, walking hand-in-hand with Preti.

The lovebirds wore casual outfits, with Venus rocking a blue puffer jacket over a black top and blue ripped jeans. The braided sportswoman completed her look with white sneakers.

Meanwhile, Preti wore an olive green short-sleeved puffer jacket over a green hoodie and gray joggers. He completed his look with black-and-white patterned sneakers.

After arriving at the court, Venus switched to a pink two-piece outfit featuring a short-sleeve shirt and long leggings.

The Shade Room obtained pictures and videos of Venus and her beau at the sports center.

A clip showed the pair holding hands and chatting while Venus took a break. Another part of the video showed Preti watching from the sidelines while Venus showed off her skills.

A picture showed the couple sharing a passionate hug, looking incredibly happy to be in each other’s arms.

Venus and Andrea weren’t shy about showing off their love for each other during their outing.

A picture showed them sharing a passionate kiss after arriving at the sports center, while another snapshot showed them hugging.

According to reports, Preti tied Venus’s shoes at one point and photographed her with other sports club guests. Venus also held his hands and rested her head on his shoulders.

However, amid the lovers’ PDA, a diamond sparkler on Venus’s ring finger became the focus as many wondered if the pair were engaged.

Venus practiced with the ring on her finger. The diamond-encrusted ring featured a huge square rock in the middle.

After The Shade Room posted pictures of Venus Williams and Andrea Preti, some fans took to the comments section to express delight that she was in a happy relationship.

One fan wrote, “Happy for her – bless her.”

Another fan added, “So happy to see her happy and in her feminine energy.”

One fan wrote, “I’m here for it. I believe she wasn’t appreciated by black men. Y’all love down talking her and her sister. They’re beautiful. Love is love.”

Another person added, “Black men spent years calling her and her sister men! All kinds of rough names… and now y’all acting like you’re confused.”

A third person shared, “Sorry y’all but most white men treat black women like ROYALTY. Those are facts & you can’t do anything about facts.”

In January 2018, she wore a suspicious diamond ring throughout the month, leading to speculation that she was engaged to then-boyfriend Nicholas Hammond. However, the tennis star’s representative told PEOPLE Magazine that she wasn’t engaged.

Meanwhile, Venus and Preti were first linked in July 2024 after enjoying a boat cruise in Nerano, Italy.

The Italian actor and his boo seem to have strengthened their bond since then, though fans would be wondering if wedding bells would be ringing anytime soon based on their recent outing.

In a 2021 chat with Cosmopolitan, Venus said she wasn’t “desperate” to settle down though she told Glamour UK a year later that she was working on her dating life.

She said, “I’ve had a single life for a long time and I think it’s really easy to get stuck in a single life and sometimes – at least for me – harder to get out. It makes you think about yourself and what you want and how to behave.”