Who is Susanna Giovanardi? Venus Williams' fiance Andrea Preti reportedly linked to another tennis star before dating legend

Venus Williams confirmed her engagement to Andrea Preti on July 22, shortly after playing her first singles match in over a year. The engagement came as a surprise to many fans, especially in light of earlier reports from Style that Andrea Preti had been dating Italian athlete and model Susanna Giovanardi. Andrea Preti was seen celebrating her birthday in July 2022, though the exact date of their split hasn’t been disclosed.

Susanna, a native of Rome, grew up alongside her parents and older brother, Davide. Her early years were steeped in family and sport. With a mother who coached tennis, Susanna picked up her first racket at five and rarely let go, regardless of the weather.

Reflecting on her connection to Rome, Giovanardi told The Atlantic Dispatch,

“I really love Rome, I think it is the most beautiful city in the world, you can walk everywhere and in every corner, you can find something really amazing, it leaves me without words every time.”

Andrea Preti’s former flame Susanna Giovanardi trained with Francesca Schiavone

Back when she first picked up a racket, Susanna Giovanardi wasn’t thinking about trophies. It was just about having fun. But by nine, things had shifted. Her game was sharper. Her focus more intense.

As per her interview with The Atlantic Dispatch, Susanna's natural ability caught the attention of coaches and competitors alike. She began to enter more competitive circuits, stepping onto the courts at national and international tournaments.

“I began winning some of them and I started dreaming about becoming a famous tennis player and I’m still working hard to reach that dream,” Susanna recalled.

Although Rome remained close to her heart, she made the choice to move to Milan, driven by ambition and guided by one of the sport’s greats.

“I left behind my favourite city and I moved to Milan, which I have to say is beautiful too. I moved here to play tennis with the ex-tennis champion, Francesca Schiavone, she was number 4 in the world and now she is my coach. I train hard every day, twice a day, to get where I want to be.”

Giovanardi trains 8 hours a day while modelling to fund her tennis dream

Model and tennis player, two worlds that seem distant, but for Susanna Giovanardi, they’ve come together.

“I really enjoy modelling, I love it. It helps me a lot as well because it can pay for my tennis career. I think there are a lot of opportunities in the future to do a lot more work in modelling,” she said.

Her priorities, however, remain rooted in the game she’s trained for since childhood.

“I have achieved many goals along the way, and I’m happy about my journey because I know it’s really hard to become a champion. I need to remain calm and constructive along the journey I’m on, and that can help me go far.”

Eight hours a day. That’s what she puts in. Training is rigorous, physically and mentally demanding, but it’s all in service of a goal she won’t let go of.

“I train hard every day 8 hours a day, trying to do my best. My biggest challenge is to enter the top 100 of the world.” she explained.

And when the pressure rises, she leans on one phrase, words that have stayed with her through every up and down.

“I think the most important thing I was ever told was to, ‘Trust the process.’ For me, this means that if you work hard every day, try to do your best, set yourself small goals every day, accept the bad days and enjoy the little achievements then you will arrive. I think this is the best advice for anybody who wants to play tennis because otherwise, you will put yourself under a lot of pressure and with the pressure you can’t do anything.”

More about Venus Williams and Andrea Preti's relationship

Venus Williams confirmed her engagement to actor-producer, Andrea Preti following her latest singles match. During a post-match chat with commentator Rennae Stubbs, the tennis icon opened up about the support Andrea Preti has given her during her recent return to the court.

“You are now an engaged woman,” Stubbs said. “So, how has Andrea helped you in this comeback? You’re happy, a smile on your face. I mean, how much has he made a difference in your life?”

“My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” replied Venus.

She went on to explain just how challenging the grind had been, physically and mentally, and how Preti's presence helped push her through.

“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.” she admitted.

Long before Andrea Preti became known on-screen, he was navigating two different worlds, first in Denmark, where he was born and raised, and then in Italy, where he moved during his teenage years.

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Fashion was Andrea Preti's first professional chapter. With encouragement and connections from his family, Andrea Preti began modelling in Italy, according to Style. That experience opened doors, but more importantly, it opened his eyes to acting.

Drawn to the craft, Andrea Preti took a leap and enrolled in the Susan Batson Academy in New York, pursuing formal training. Since then, he’s taken on roles in several projects, including Temptation (2023), Girls to Buy (2021), and the Italian drama A Professor (2021).

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