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Venus Williams confirms she's engaged to Andrea Preti after historic win at DC Open

Venus Williams confirms she's engaged to Andrea Preti after historic win at DC Open

India Today24-07-2025
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams confirmed that she's engaged to actor Andrea Preti. The veteran made the revelations after her singles match against Peyton Stearns in the Round of 32 clash of the Washington Open 2025 on Tuesday, July 22.With her 6–3, 6–4 victory, Williams became the second-oldest player in history to win a WTA tour-level match, trailing only Martina Navratilova. While Navratilova achieved the milestone at 45 years and 242 days, Venus reached it at 45 years and 34 days.advertisementSpeaking about her relationship with Andrea Preti, Williams was first romantically linked to the 'One More Day' actor in July 2024, when the two were spotted enjoying a cozy boating trip in Nerano, Italy. Engagement rumors began swirling in February after she was seen wearing a diamond ring on her left hand.
'My fiance is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,' Williams said after her first singles win since the Cincinnati Masters in 2023.'He encouraged me'Williams, who made her comeback to the tennis circuit after a 16-month hiatus, expressed gratitude to her fiance for his unwavering support and motivation, crediting him with inspiring her to keep pushing through the tough training sessions.'There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don't know how much work goes into this, like it's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it's wonderful to be here. He's never seen me play,' Williams added.Born in Denmark in 1988 and raised in Italy, Andrea Preti is a multi-talented creative who began his career as a fashion model before transitioning into acting and directing.As for Williams, she now faces a formidable challenge in the singles Round of 16, taking on Poland's Magdalena Frech, the current World No. 24 and fifth seed.On Wednesday, Williams and her American partner Hailey Baptiste exited the women's doubles after a 4–6, 6–3, 6–10 loss to Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.- EndsTrending Reel
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As US Open announces biggest ever prize money total in tennis history ($85 million), here's a look at how tennis' four Grand Slams compare
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As US Open announces biggest ever prize money total in tennis history ($85 million), here's a look at how tennis' four Grand Slams compare

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US Open singles champions will get a record $5 million in 2025 and total compensation is up 20%
US Open singles champions will get a record $5 million in 2025 and total compensation is up 20%

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timean hour ago

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US Open singles champions will get a record $5 million in 2025 and total compensation is up 20%

Prize money at the US Open will rise to nearly $85 million across all competitions this year, including a record $5 million each to the women's and men's singles champions, and total player compensation is jumping 20% to $90 million, the most in tennis history. The US Tennis Association announced the payouts Wednesday for the year's last Grand Slam tournament, which begins with the new mixed doubles event and its $1 million top check on Aug. 19-20. Singles competition starts on a Sunday for the first time — Aug. 24 — as those brackets expand from 14 days to 15. The increases at Flushing Meadows — where last year's total compensation was $75 million — come as the sport's leading players have been in discussions with each of the four major tournaments in a bid to receive a higher percentage of revenues at the US Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Djokovic, Coco Gauff and 2024 US Open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner were among 20 players who signed a letter sent to the heads of the four Grand Slam events in March seeking more prize money and a greater say in what they called 'decisions that directly impact us.' Since then, some players have held talks with the majors. The previous high amount for a US Open singles championship was $3.85 million in 2019, before decreasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's $5 million check represents a 39% hike from last year's $3.6 million. The same percentage increase was applied to the singles runners-up, who get $2.5 million each. Semifinalists will earn $1.26 million, a 26% rise. At Wimbledon, which ended last month, prize money went up about 7% to about $73 million at the exchange rate when the All England Club announced its player payments. The singles champions were paid about $4 million apiece. In New York, the winning teams in women's and men's doubles will receive $1 million, a new high for those events at the US Open, where total prizes for qualifying are going up to $8 million, a 10% increase. The $85 million in 2025 US Open prize money includes singles, doubles, qualifying and wheelchair events. Wednesday's news comes after the USTA said in May that its main arena, Arthur Ashe Stadium, would be overhauled as part of an $800 million project touted as the 'largest single investment' in US Open history.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina faces hateful abuse after Canada Open loss, blames 'shameful' bettors
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Ukraine's Elina Svitolina faces hateful abuse after Canada Open loss, blames 'shameful' bettors

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