Emma Raducanu faced a distressing incident at the WTA event in Dubai, where a “fixated” man approached her at her hotel, presenting a letter the day before her match. The 2021 US Open champion described the experience as “difficult” and was left in tears during her second-round match against 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova, prompting her to alert the chair umpire. Following the incident, tennis authorities quickly ejected the man after he was spotted in the crowd during the match.
Raducanu took to Instagram to thank her supporters and expressed pride in her performance, despite the unsettling experience. It has been reported that the man, who is not a British national, was acting suspiciously. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed it is actively assessing the threat he poses and has indicated that he will be banned from future events.
This unsettling episode is not Raducanu’s first encounter with obsessive behaviour; previously, a man had received a restraining order for repeatedly visiting her home. The WTA has stated it will continue to work with Raducanu and her team to ensure her safety. The incident raises ongoing concerns about player security in light of past serious threats in professional tennis.