Venus Williams: Marriage is Like a Major

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 17, 2026
Photo credit: Australian Open Facebook

It’s celebration season for Venus Williams.

Last month, Venus wed partner, 37-year-old Italian actor and model Andrea Preti, in Palm Beach, Florida. It was the couple’s second wedding ceremony following one in Italy.

Today, the 45-year-old Venus Williams will make history as the oldest player to play an Australian Open main-draw match when she faces 68th-ranked Serbian Olga Danilovic in her Melbourne opener on John Cain Arena.

“I hadn’t thought about it till it came out in the press, so yay, yay for me,” Venus said when asked about her record-setting appearance. “Let’s do this.”

It will be Williams’ 22nd Australian Open appearance and first since 2021.

It comes 28 years after Williams’ 1998 AO debut.

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The four-time Olympic gold-medal champion said playing a major is similar to marriage ceremony: the commitment comes long before the celebration of the day and can create lasting memories.

“Well, the day is a celebration,” Williams said of her wedding day. “The commitment comes long before. It’s kind of like getting here.

“It’s the celebration of arriving and getting to actually play. The training happens long before. It’s just our opportunity to celebrate with family and friends and to create lasting memories.”