Latest news with #RennaeStubbs
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Venus Williams drops hilarious quote after huge DC Open win
The post Venus Williams drops hilarious quote after huge DC Open win appeared first on ClutchPoints. The tennis world was shocked recently when Venus Williams announced that she was returning to the WTA Tour, taking a wild card into the main draw of the Mubabala Citi DC Open in Washington D.C. Williams was not officially retired, but she had not played a match since March of 2024 in Miami. Her last win came in August if 2023 in Cincinnati against Veronika Kudermetova, but that changed on Tuesday night. Williams came in as a huge underdog against American Peyton Stearns, the World No. 35, but she turned back the clock with excellent serving and ball striking from the baseline to pick up a straight-sets win, 6-3 6-4. After the match, Williams had a hilarious moment talking about her return during her interview with Rennae Stubbs. 'I had to come back for the insurance, because they informed me this year that I'm on cobra, Williams said with a laugh. 'So it's like, I got to get my benefits on. I started training!' Williams went down an early break in both sets to the Texas product, who recently made the semifinals at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome on clay, but she stormed back with aggressive returning and clutch serving. Despite being 45 years old, Williams was still able to dig in and play some solid defense at times. The seven-time Grand Slam champion can continue to play in front of her home fans over the next month during the North American hard court swing. While she is not confirmed in any of these events, she would likely be able to secure a wild card at the WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati before the final Grand Slam of the year at the U.S. Open in New York if she chooses to play. Williams is still alive in both singles and doubles after winning her opening round with partner Hailey Baptiste. The two of them will continue their quest for the title on Wednesday against the No. 2-seeded pair of Taylor Townsend and Shuai Zhang. The global superstar will have until Thursday before her next singles match, where she will square off with No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech in the Round of 16. Related: Coco Gauff shockingly absent from USA's Billie Jean King Cup roster Related: Venus Williams wins doubles match at DC Open in return to tournament play
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Venus Williams reveals engagement to actor after historic comeback win
The post Venus Williams reveals engagement to actor after historic comeback win appeared first on ClutchPoints. Venus Williams gave tennis fans more than just a thrilling performance Tuesday night. Moments after her history-making win at the DC Open, the 45-year-old legend confirmed her engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti, Complex reports. A perfect match for Williams. In a post-match interview with Rennae Stubbs, Williams couldn't hide her joy as she revealed that her 37-year-old fiancé had been a driving force behind her return. 'Yes, my fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,' she said, smiling. '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? It's nine-to-five 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.' The engagement comes after months of quiet speculation. Williams and Preti were first linked in July 2024 when they were spotted vacationing together in Nerano, Italy. The rumors gained traction earlier this year when she was seen sporting a diamond ring, but both remained tight-lipped—until now. Preti, who has starred in films like 'Temptation' (2023) and 'My Beloved Enemy' (2018), later shared his excitement on Instagram, calling Williams the GOAT and praising her resilience. A night of history and celebration Williams' big announcement came right after an impressive straight-sets victory over Peyton Stearns, 6-3, 6-4. The win makes her the second-oldest woman to claim a tour-level singles match, a record held by Martina Navratilova, who won at 47 in 2004. For Venus Williams, who hadn't played since March 2024, the victory represents more than just another notch in her decorated career—it's proof she still belongs among the sport's fiercest competitors. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who has five Wimbledon titles and two U.S. Open crowns, will now face Magdalena Frech in her next match. Whether this tournament leads to another deep run or not, Tuesday night will be remembered as a defining moment in her storied career, blending personal triumph with athletic history. Related: Patriots' Stefon Diggs chasing around dog he almost lost is funniest thing you'll see today Related: FC Barcelona adds more firepower with Marcus Rashford loan
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Venus Williams reveals why she really returned to tennis... after celebrating engagement with comeback win
Venus Williams revealed the hilarious reason she has returned to tennis after her comeback victory this week - and it's not for the money or glory. The 45-year-old - who also announced that she is engaged to boyfriend Andrea Preti, 37 - won her first tennis match in 16 months on Tuesday night, turning back the clock to beat Peyton Stearns - who is 22 years her junior - in straight sets at the Citi Open in Washington D.C. And during her post-match interview with Australian ex-tennis player Rennae Stubbs, Williams confessed that she had to get back on the court to keep reaping the rewards of her health insurance. 'I had to come back for the insurance, they informed me earlier this year, I'm on COBRA [Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act],' she told Stubbs as they laughed along with the crowd. 'So that's like, I got to get my benefits on. Started training.' It is unclear whether Williams' claim to have returned due to COBRA - which allows employees and their families to remain on their former employers' sponsored health insurance plan for a finite period - was a serious one or not. But Stubbs responded: 'She's actually not lying about that, cause we talked about that six years ago. You're actually telling the truth. Insurance is hard.' Venus Williams after becoming the oldest WTA match winner since 2004: 'I had to come back for the insurance, because they informed me this year that I'm on cobra. So it's like, I got to get my benefits on' 😭😭😭😭 — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 23, 2025 The 45-year-old, who also announced that she is engaged to boyfriend Andrea Preti (left), said she is back on a tennis court to keep reaping the rewards of her health insurance The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion then replied: 'You guys know what it's like. Let me tell you, I'm always at the doctor so I need this insurance.' Williams also revealed she is engaged during the interview with Stubbs after referring to Preti - who she was first linked with romantically in the summer of 2024 - as her 'fiance'. 'My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,' she said to huge cheers and applause. '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 has made her tennis comeback after having surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus in her time away from the sport. The tennis great opened up on her health scare earlier this month, admitting the fibroids led to heavy bleeding and intense cramps - while also accusing doctors of dimissing her symptoms. 'As bad as things were for me, crazy amounts of bleeding like you couldn't imagine … my doctors told me it was normal,' she told NBC News. 'No one should have to go through this. You don't have to live this way.' Now, she says, she is 'praying for good health' during the twilight of her career. 'Where I am at this year is so much different where I was at last year. It's night and day, being able to be here and prepare for the tournament as opposed to preparing for surgery a year ago,' Williams said after winning in the doubles at the Citi Open on Monday. 'At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter if your health is not there. So, it definitely put it in perspective for me and maybe made it easier to make the decision to maybe come back out here and maybe play even freer.'
News.com.au
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sam Stosur announces birth of her second child, reveals name
Australian tennis icon Sam Stosur has shared that her family has grown by one, with the birth of her second child, a daughter named Emmeline Grace. The 41-year-old revealed the heartwarming news in a post to Instagram on Wednesday night. 'And beautiful chaos reigns once again,' she wrote. 'Welcome Emmeline Grace. Evie is beyond happy to have a little sister, and we are over the moon. We love you so much, little Emmy.' The tennis world was quick to celebrate the news, with Aussie legends Rennae Stubbs and Alicia Molik leading the celebrations. 'Just another gorgeous baby girl for me to love endlessly! Emmy your Aunty Nae Nae can't wait to meet you!!' Stubbs commented. 'Sam and Liz, I'm so happy for you both and Evie, you're going to be the best big sis ever! Love you all.' Alicia Molik wrote: 'Congrats Sam Liz and Evie'. Tennis stars such as Lizette Cabrera and Maddison Inglis also congratulated the 2011 US Open champion. Stosur has been in a relationship with Liz Astling since 2016. Astling gave birth to their first child Genevieve (Evie) five years ago. This time around, the former world No. 4 carried the pair's child. Stosur retired from tennis after the 2023 Australian Open, following a mixed doubles defeat alongside fellow Aussie Matt Ebden. Stosur's greatest career achievement was the shock straight-sets US Open final win over Serena Williams, a result that saw her become a household name.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Venus Williams Admits She Came Back to Tennis at Age 45 for the Health Insurance
Blame COBRA for Venus Williams' comeback! The tennis icon — who has already made a triumphant return to singles play this week at the DC Open after a 16-month hiatus — offered a surprising reason why she is competing again. 'I had to come back for the insurance, they informed me earlier this year, I'm on COBRA,' Williams, 45, told interviewer Rennae Stubbs, as they laughed along with the crowd. 'So that's like, I got to get my benefits on. Started training.' 'She's actually not lying about that, cause we talked about that six years ago,' Stubbs replied. 'You're actually telling the truth. Insurance is hard.' The seven-time singles Grand Slam champion (and 14-time doubles Grand Slam champion) then volleyed back, to more laughter in the crowd: 'You guys know what it's like. Let me tell you, I'm always at the doctor so I need this insurance.' Earlier this month, Williams shared more about her health when she revealed on NBC News that she has had an ongoing struggle with fibroids, which once had her 'laying on the floor in the locker room' before one of her most iconic matches. Williams said that at first, she thought her symptoms had to do with Sjögren's syndrome, which causes fatigue and swollen joints. She first shared her Sjögren's diagnosis in 2011. 'I live with an autoimmune disease. So I thought maybe it was autoimmune anemia or something like that,' Williams told NBC News reporter Zinhle Essamuah. 'But really it was what I was dealing with inside, which was fibroids.' After her symptoms were dismissed at first, the athlete persisted and saw another doctor, she said. 'You can be denied the best health care no matter who you are,' Williams said. 'And that you have to be your own advocate. Hopefully someone will see this interview and say, 'I can get help. I don't have to live this way.' " Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the interview, Williams also alluded to her happy off-the-court life, which includes the news that she is engaged to Italian actor Andrea Preti. 'I've been taking this time to rest and recover and live my life and be, you know, a happy person without fibroids,' she said. Read the original article on People
