Italian Tennis Player Lucrezia Stefanini Targeted with Gun Photo Threat Before Indian Wells Match
An Italian tennis professional has disclosed that she and her family were subjected to menacing threats, which included a photograph of a firearm, prior to a qualifying match at the esteemed Indian Wells tournament in California. Lucrezia Stefanini, currently ranked 138th globally, suspects that the intimidation was an effort to influence the match outcome for illicit betting gains.
Stefanini's Harrowing Ordeal Shared on Social Media
In a video posted on Instagram from the BNP Paribas Open on Monday, Stefanini detailed the distressing incident. "I received a WhatsApp message in which I was threatened over winning yesterday’s match. They threatened me and my family and named my parents, the place where I was born and they sent me a photo of a gun," she recounted. Despite the alarming pressure, Stefanini proceeded to compete in her first-round qualifying match against Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, ultimately suffering a defeat with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The WTA 1000 event is regarded as the premier level in women's tennis outside of the Grand Slams and WTA Finals. "I’m making this video and explaining what happened because I don’t think it’s right to put me under this pressure and unease before a match," Stefanini stated. She added that she promptly notified the WTA, which responded by providing enhanced security measures. "The entire tournament mobilised to make me feel safe. Despite it all, I fought until the end to try and win my match, because I can’t permit these people to intimidate me."
Condemnation from Italian Tennis Authorities and Broader Concerns
Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, denounced the incident as "intolerable." He commented: "Sending images of weapons, knowledge of personal information and intimidation toward an athlete marks an increase of disturbing quality that doesn’t have anything to do with sports." Binaghi further emphasised that individuals attempting to manipulate matches through fear "should know that they have entered criminal territory. This kind of behaviour deserves an immediate legal response."
This alarming event follows a similar threat made via social media to another Italian player, Mattia Bellucci. The International Tennis Integrity Agency regularly collaborates on investigations into match-fixing, while the WTA and International Tennis Federation reported last year that they had monitored 8,000 online posts and comments categorised as abusive, violent, or threatening in 2024. Initiatives are currently in progress to utilise artificial intelligence to block such menacing communications.
Binaghi stressed that beyond "identifying and punishing those responsible," a "drastically strengthened international system" is crucial to safeguard athletes' security. This incident underscores growing concerns about the integrity and safety of professional sports in the face of increasing threats linked to gambling and online harassment.
