Emma Raducanu has opened up about her experience of distressing behaviour from a fan during the Dubai Tennis Championships, admitting she struggled to see the ball through her tears amidst the turmoil. The 22-year-old tennis star sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair after a member of the audience was removed, later released by Dubai police without charges upon agreeing to stay away from her.
As she prepares for her upcoming campaign at the Indian Wells tournament, reports indicate that Raducanu has been offered additional security staff to help ensure her safety, although she has chosen to decline these measures.
In her first interview since the incident, Raducanu expressed how deeply affected she was during the match, revealing that the sight of the man in the crowd had unsettled her and disrupted her focus. She noted, “I was playing a top player and I can’t see the ball… I literally needed to just take a breather.” Despite her concerns, Raducanu managed to regroup for the match but succumbed to a tight loss in the second round.
Raducanu recounted prior encounters with the unnamed man, stating he had approached her in a café where he handed her a letter and mentioned following her across several tournaments. She described the situation as escalating from what initially felt like a typical fan interaction to something more alarming.
After the match, Raducanu admitted she broke down in tears, not solely due to her loss but also because of the intensity of her emotions throughout the recent weeks. Yet, she found strength in how well she coped with the pressure of the incident during her match.
Reflecting on the nature of fan interactions, Raducanu contrasted positive supporters, like a devoted fan who loudly cheers for her at tournaments, with less appropriate behaviours that can arise from more obsessive admirers, emphasising that it’s often the ‘hidden’ individuals that can be most disconcerting.
With a week of rest and recovery, Raducanu mentioned feeling much better as she looks forward to her next challenges on the tennis circuit.