“They threatened me and my family”: Lucrezia Stefanini reveals threats before Indian Wells qualifier

Italian tennis player Lucrezia Stefanini revealed that she received threatening messages shortly before competing in qualifying at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The world No. 138 disclosed the incident through a video posted on social media, explaining that the message targeted both her and her family ahead of the match.

Stefanini was preparing to face Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva - the first Andorran in the Top 100 - in the first round of qualifying at the WTA 1000 event in California. The BNP Paribas Open, which began this Wednesday, March 4 and runs through March 15, is one of the most significant tournaments in the women’s calendar outside the four Grand Slams and the WTA Finals.

The Italian ultimately lost the qualifying match in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while Jimenez Kasintseva advanced to the final round of qualifying (and later reached the main draw after defeating Britain’s Katie Boulter). According to Stefanini, the message arrived around midday and included disturbing personal references along with an image of a weapon.

In her statement on social media, Stefanini explained that the message was sent through WhatsApp and explicitly warned her against winning the match. She said the sender referenced personal details about her life, including her parents and birthplace, which made the threat particularly unsettling.

“Yesterday, around one o’clock, I received a WhatsApp message where I was threatened if I were to win yesterday’s match,” stated the player from the Italian Billie Jean King Cup team. “They threatened me and my family. They mentioned my parents, the place where I was born, and they sent me a photo of a gun.”

The Italian player said she decided to speak publicly about the incident because the situation placed unnecessary pressure on her before the competition. Professional tennis players often face intense scrutiny during tournaments, but Stefanini said the message crossed a clear line by making her feel unsafe. “I’m making this video and sharing this because I think it wasn’t right to put this kind of pressure or distress on me before a match and to make me feel unsafe.”

Stefanini added that the tournament and the WTA responded quickly after she reported the threat. According to her account, additional security measures were put in place to ensure her safety at the venue and after the match. “I immediately alerted the WTA, which provided me with more security. The entire tournament mobilized to make me feel safe.”

Despite the circumstances, Stefanini said she attempted to approach the match as normally as possible. The Italian pushed the contest to three sets against Jimenez Kasintseva but ultimately fell short of advancing to the next round of qualifying.

In her message, she emphasised that intimidation cannot be allowed to influence players’ performances or their professional responsibilities. Competing on the WTA Tour, she said, is not only a profession but also something driven by passion and enjoyment. “Despite it all, I fought until the very end to try and win my match, because I cannot allow these people to intimidate me or influence me in my work.”

Stefanini also reflected on the broader meaning of such threats within sport. She described tennis as both a profession and a passion, saying it is difficult to accept that intimidation and harassment have become part of the competitive environment.

“I believe this is a job, but it is also a pleasure, something we enjoy. It is our passion, and I cannot believe that threats like this have become part of this sport,” the former top-100 player added. “I didn’t give weight to those WhatsApp messages, but I did report them, and I will continue to do so if you keep sending me these kinds of messages.”

Stefanini’s ordeal is the latest in a troubling trend of digital harassment targeting lower-ranked players during qualifying rounds. As the WTA continues to expand its mental health and security resources, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of athletes in the age of instant messaging. By speaking out, Stefanini joins players like Caroline Garcia and Daria Kasatkina in demanding stricter accountability for those who use gambling losses as a pretext for violent intimidation.