*Venus Williams says her approach to marriage was shaped by careful reflection rather than convention. During a conversation with her sister Serena Williams on the podcast “Stockton Street,” the tennis icon discussed the values that guided her decision to marry Andrea Preti, emphasizing long-term compatibility over surface-level attraction.
Williams, 45, married Preti, 37, last year, with celebrations held across Italy and Florida. According to Venus, deciding whether to marry someone involves far more than romance. She explained that commitment also means becoming part of a larger family dynamic and building a shared life rooted in stability.
“You marry [one’s] family. That’s why I always tell people, when you get married and you’re thinking about a relationship for eternity. It’s about good family, good values, has a job,” Venus said on the podcast, per PEOPLE. “People have to work, so if they don’t work, it could present a problem, depending on your situation. But those are the three most important things.”
She added that physical attraction still matters, but it does not exist in isolation. “Of course, attraction has to be there, but you can be attracted to someone because of their family, their values, and because they take care of themselves.”
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Venus advised listeners to weigh the broader consequences of marriage, noting that joining a troubled or unpredictable family setting may wear on a couple’s bond over time. Venus further stated that choosing not to work can add avoidable tension to a marriage.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Preti called his marriage to Venus “a dream come true.”
“Marrying this beautiful soul and sweetheart is the most amazing thing that could happen in my life,” Preti said. He went on to praise the Williams family for making him feel welcomed and supported from the beginning.
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