Italian tennis player Lucrezia Stefanini has revealed a shocking incident that unfolded just before her qualifying match at the prestigious Indian Wells Open in California. The 27-year-old said she and her family were threatened through a WhatsApp message that appeared to be linked to betting pressures surrounding the match.
In a video shared on Instagram, Stefanini explained that the message contained a photo of a gun and disturbing personal details about her family. According to the Italian player, the sender referenced her parents and even mentioned the place where she was born, creating a deeply unsettling situation on the eve of competition.
Despite the alarming message, Stefanini decided to step onto the court. She later said she wanted to ensure that intimidation would not influence her performance or the outcome of the match.
“I immediately informed the WTA and the tournament officials,” she explained, adding that the organizers quickly increased security measures to ensure her safety.
Stefanini, currently ranked around No. 138 in the world, faced Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva in the first round of qualifying at the WTA 1000 event. After a strong start, the Italian eventually lost the match 4–6, 6–4, 6–4, exiting the qualifiers despite fighting until the final points.
The tournament itself is one of the most significant stops on the women’s tennis calendar outside the four Grand Slams and the WTA Finals, which made the incident even more concerning for the sport’s authorities.
Strong Reaction from Italian Tennis Authorities
The episode triggered a sharp response from Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation. He described the threats as “intolerable,” warning that attempts to influence matches through intimidation cross the line into criminal behaviour.
Binaghi emphasized that sharing images of weapons and personal information with athletes represents a dangerous escalation that has no place in sport.
Growing Concern Over Online Abuse in Tennis
The case has also highlighted a broader issue in professional tennis — the rising level of online harassment and threats directed at players, often linked to gambling frustration. Sports governing bodies including the International Tennis Integrity Agency have been monitoring such behaviour closely.
Tennis authorities revealed that during 2024 alone, more than 8,000 abusive or threatening online messages directed at players were tracked across platforms. Efforts are now underway to use artificial intelligence tools to detect and block such messages more effectively.
For Stefanini, however, the message was clear: intimidation would not dictate her actions.
Even after receiving the threat, she said she stepped onto the court determined to compete, insisting that she would never allow such tactics to control her career or her results.
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