LOVE MATCH

Venus Williams has ditched the singles game and quietly wed Andrea Preti, the handsome Italian who swept her off her feet

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SHE always insisted she was quite happy being single although there has long been scepticism about that – after all, how could someone named after the Roman goddess of love claim not to be interested in lasting romance?

For years Venus Williams watched from the sidelines while her younger sister, Serena, built a family with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

But it would take someone truly extraordinary to make her change her independent lifestyle, Venus (45) long maintained – and it seems that special someone has finally come along to tempt her out of her singles corner.

The signs are everywhere that Venus has even secretly tied the knot with Italian actor Andrea Preti – reports have emerged that they wed in September on the island of Ischia along the Amalfi Coast.

In the lead-up to the big day Venus was spotted in the village of Sant’Angelo on the island wearing a custom-made white sunhat emblazoned with Sig.ra Preti Italian for Mrs Preti. The wedding party sported coordinated Team Bride and Team Groom T-shirts as they cruised around in golf carts.

The pair recently went on their first major public outing as newlyweds when they appeared at the Swarovski Masters of Light Celebration in Los Angeles, with Venus positively glowing with Andrea by her side.

While she hasn't publicly shared details of her wedding day, Serena gave insight into the planning process beforehand.

But Venus had some very specific requirements that kept Serena on her toes. “She wanted 14 hairstyles – and she was like, ‘What do you think?’” Serena said. “She sent me her options and within 30 minutes I had them not only done, but in a PDF file showing what hairstyle looked best.”

Venus has finally found her own happily ever after – and judging by how smitten she looked at the Swarovski event Mrs Preti couldn’t be more content.