Tennis star claims she was sent photo of a gun in chilling threat before Indian Wells match

An Italian tennis player has revealed she and her family were subjected to threats, including a photograph of a gun, before a qualifying match at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in California.

Lucrezia Stefanini believes the intimidation was an attempt to manipulate the match outcome for betting purposes.

Stefanini, ranked 138th in the world, shared her ordeal in a video posted on Instagram from the BNP Paribas Open on Monday.

“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 explained.

Despite the alarming pressure, Stefanini went on to play her first-round qualifying match against Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, ultimately losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The WTA 1000 event is considered the highest 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, adding that she immediately alerted the WTA, which provided her with increased security.

“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.”

Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, condemned the incident as “intolerable.”

He remarked: “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 added that those who attempt to influence matches through fear “should know that they have entered criminal territory. This kind of behaviour deserves an immediate legal response.”

The incident follows a similar threat made via social media to another Italian player, Mattia Bellucci.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency routinely collaborates on investigations into match-fixing, while the WTA and International Tennis Federation reported last year that they had tracked 8,000 online posts and comments labelled as abusive, violent or threatening in 2024.

Efforts are underway to employ artificial intelligence to block such menacing comments.

Binaghi stressed that beyond “identifying and punishing those responsible,” a “drastically strengthened international system” is essential to ensure the safety of athletes.