Andrea Preti, Venus Williams’ husband, recently expressed his deep admiration for her as she sported a custom Lacoste jacket that paid tribute to her iconic bead-braid hairstyle and legacy during her Miami Open journey. The Italian actor and director also shared touching reflections on both Venus and her sister, Serena, and their remarkable achievements at the tournament.
Andrea Preti Honors Venus Williams’ Legacy at the Miami Open
WTA legend Williams and Preti sparked romance rumors in 2024, after which Williams finally confirmed their engagement in a July 2025 interview. Their love story quickly blossomed, leading to a whirlwind of celebration: just two months later, they exchanged vows in Ischia, Italy, before holding a second dazzling ceremony in December in her homeland of Palm Beach, Florida.
Preti played a significant role in Williams’ return to the court after her health challenges, as Williams shared last year in a post-match interview with Rennae Stubbs in Washington, D.C. She added, highlighting her career plans and her husband’s golden advice, “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? He encouraged me to get through this, and it’s wonderful to be here.”
In his recent Instagram stories, Preti shared his heartwarming thoughts about her Miami Open jacket. The custom-made Lacoste piece features 814 hand-sewn beads in the colors of her childhood. It honors her bead-braid hairstyle and her legacy in the sport, which includes 49 WTA singles titles, seven majors, and 22 doubles titles with Serena.
He lovingly added, “Forever,” and “Keep talking 💪🏻🤌🏻,” to Black Professionals Network‘s Instagram post, which featured the notable achievements of Williams’ sister at the Miami Open and the number of Black athletes playing at the tournament in 2026, reaching new heights.
Venus won the Miami Open three times (1998, 1999, and 2001), while Serena claimed eight titles at the tournament. Venus entered the 2026 tournament as a wildcard and concluded her run with a round-of-128 loss to Francesca Jones in straight sets.
READ MORE: Venus Williams Shines in Special Lacoste Jacket, With Tribute to Her Iconic Braids in Miami
The French sports fashion brand, in its recent Instagram post, revealed the details behind the design, adding in the caption: “‘The girl that changed the game’ ✨ @venuswilliams stepped onto the @miamiopen wearing this custom-made jacket, imagined exclusively for her by Lacoste Creative Director @pelagia.kolotouros.
Crafted from silver mirror leather made in Italy, a nod to every trophy she has won, the jacket features 814 traditional beads hand-sewn in the colors of her childhood, echoing the hair beads she wore when she first picked up a racket.”
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Williams will also compete in the doubles category with partner Leylah Fernandez and will play in the round of 32 against Erin Routliffe and Asia Muhammad.
