After qualifying for a first-ever US Open, it was jubilation for Lucrezia Stefanini, who managed to set up a second round clash against fellow countrywoman Jasmine Paolini. While that ended in defeat, she came away bruised and battered following her New York venture, but that was not because of the tennis.
Known for previously having been sent threatening messages shortly before trying to qualify for Indian Wells earlier this year, Stefanini was enjoying some prosperous form. Having qualified for the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, she even picked up a second win at WTA 1000 level via a retirement by Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round of the event in Ohio.
Her attention then turned to Flushing Meadows, where she barraged her way through qualifying without even dropping a set in a very convincing three matches of tennis.
The qualifier followed that up with a fantastic 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska to double her win tally in the main draw of Grand Slam events, the first coming at the 2023 Australian Open.
A tantalising clash against Paolini was her next task, but it ended in a commanding 6-4, 6-1 win for the Italian number one who won the final six games en route to the dominant win.
Stefanini in the wars as anti-doping tests take a nasty turn
It had been a busy but productive couple of weeks for Stefanini on the court, but there was still the matter of a doping test, mandatory for all players. She underwent it on September 2, the day of her second round loss, and came out of it in a visibly worse state.
The current World No.119 posted the pictures online as she showcased the extent of the damage suffered in what was supposed to be a routine check-up. It was so impactful that the discomfort caused by the haematoma saw her forced to withdraw from the WTA 125 in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Along with the pictures came a message added by the former Billie Jean King Cup finalist who documented her turbulent experience.
"A week ago, at the US Open, during a doping control, the officer couldn't find the vein and, instead of moving to a different area, kept moving the needle around inside my arm to try and locate it. The result? This lovely bruise that's still here a week later," she wrote.
EL PEOR ANTI-DOPING DE LA HISTORIA‼️
— Solo Tenis Picks🇦🇷 / Apuestas Deportivas Free (@solotenispicks) September 10, 2026
A Lucreczia Stefanini le tocó el control antidopaje en el #USOpen 🇺🇸 y le mandaron una enfermera que le detonó el brazo.
La italiana se tuvo que bajar del WTA Barranquilla por este motivo.
Mi abuela con parkison lo hacía mejor! pic.twitter.com/aVSt9bFa6t
This made her pitch the question: "I wonder: is it normal for a doping control to be carried out in this way? And above all: is this the treatment reserved for all players?"
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In truth, it was a traumatic experience for the 28-year-old, who also was deemed not fit enough to continue competing and prolong her fine form in the WTA 125 tournament currently undergoing in South America.
However, it should not dent what was a brilliant breakthrough tournament at the US Open. She commented on her run on Instagram. "Atmosphere at the US Open this year was insane! It’s been a long journey here in New York but next year I’ll try to go even longer!"
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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