As well as the drama that ensued overnight with the Indian Wells rain delays and Rafael Nadal withdrawing, Jennifer Capriati sparked a feud with Lindsay Davenport surrounding comments made about her late father Stefano.
Capriati rose to tennis stardom under the tutelage of her father Stefano in the early 1990s and 2000's. She was in the top 10 at the age of 14, she went on to become World No.1 after winning the Australian Open. But despite his excellence, he was a polarising figure with journalist, Ian O'Connor calling Capriati a 'ponytailed ATM' that he was taking advantage of. Stefano died in May 2015 after a cancer battle and after comments made by Davenport, Capriati accused her of slandering him without much cause to do so.
He was also compared to the father of Mary Pierce and Jelena Dokic, who were both noted for being abusive towards their daughters. Davenport is yet to respond on social media to these allegations and also sees Capriati return to social media for the first time in a number of years likely in just cause due to the allegations thrown in this case.
"I can't believe what I just heard being said about my father. I can't let my father's memory be slandered any longer. My father was the most loving, kind, supportive, beautiful father a daughter could ask for. He was adored and loved by everyone." Capriati wrote on X, tagging both Lindsay Davenport and the broadcaster in her post.
"I grieve my father’s passing to this day, and to hear his memory and character be assassinated and compared to Pierces, Dokics father is outrageously false, and defamatory. @LDavenport76 I've heard this several times now, and it’s shockingly hurtful and false."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
@LDavenport76@TennisChannel
I can’t believe what I just heard being said about my father. I can’t let my father’s memory be slandered any longer. My father was the most loving, kind, supportive, beautiful father a daughter could ask for. He was adored and loved by everyone.