Emma Raducanu Shaken by Stalker Incident at Dubai Tennis Championships
Emma Raducanu endured a frightening moment during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships, breaking down in tears after spotting a man in the crowd who had previously approached her.
The distressed 21-year-old took refuge behind the umpire’s chair, appearing visibly shaken as she pointed out the individual to her team. The WTA later confirmed that the man displayed “fixated behavior” and was ejected and banned from future tournaments.
Coach Reveals Security Knew About Stalker Before Match
Raducanu’s former coach, Roman Kelecic, has since revealed that event organizers had been alerted to the man’s presence hours before the match.
“Three or four hours before the match, we had a photo of that stalker,” Kelecic told i.
“Not only us, but the entire security team at the tournament knew who he was.”
Despite security being aware, the man still managed to secure a front-row seat, leading to a distressing scene early in the match.
“Emma loses the first game and runs to us, crying, shouting: ‘Here he is, here he is, here he is.’”
Authorities Intervene, Charges Dropped
After being removed from the stadium, Dubai police detained the man, who had previously left Raducanu a note and taken photos of her. However, Raducanu chose to drop the charges after the man signed a formal agreement to keep his distance.
A statement from the Dubai Media Office confirmed the action taken:
“Dubai authorities have taken swift action in accordance with local legal protocols.
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.”
Raducanu Speaks Out
Following the match, Raducanu took to Instagram to express her gratitude for the support she received.
“Difficult experience yesterday, but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened.
Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
Despite the emotional setback, Raducanu showcased resilience by finishing the match. She will now look to refocus as she continues her return to the WTA Tour.
