Emma Raducanu became visibly distressed during her second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships after spotting a man who had approached her a day earlier seated in the front rows. The individual, described as exhibiting “fixated behaviour,” was swiftly removed from the arena, the WTA confirmed.
Dubai authorities have since revealed details of the incident, confirming that Raducanu dropped charges against the man, who signed a formal undertaking to stay away from her.
The unsettling encounter began on Monday, February 17, when Raducanu was approached in a public area by the man, who left her a note and took a photo of her. She reported the interaction to the WTA, prompting the organization to enhance her security ahead of Tuesday’s match. Despite these measures, the same individual was spotted in the crowd, leading to his removal.
“On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour,” the WTA said in a statement. “This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
Raducanu, visibly shaken, spoke to the umpire early in the match but continued playing, ultimately losing the contest. Following the incident, she returned home and assured fans she was doing okay.
The Government of Dubai Media Office issued a statement reinforcing their commitment to safety:
“Dubai authorities have taken swift action to address an incident involving British tennis star Emma Raducanu, in accordance with local legal protocols. Following Raducanu’s complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behaviour that caused her distress during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“While Raducanu later chose to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments. Dubai remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the emirate.”
Raducanu addressed the incident in an Instagram story on Wednesday, thanking her supporters and opponent, Karolina Muchova, for her understanding.
“Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match,” she wrote. “Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
