On June 17, 2025, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) thwarted an attempt by a man, previously issued a restraining order for stalking British tennis star Emma Raducanu, to obtain tickets for the 2025 Wimbledon Championships (June 30–July 13), per BBC Sport. The individual’s application was flagged and blocked by Wimbledon’s security system during the public ballot, as his name had been red-flagged following a February 2025 incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he was banned from WTA events, per The Independent.
Details of the Dubai Incident
The man, described as “fixated,” had followed Raducanu, 22, across four consecutive tournaments—Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai. In Dubai, he approached her at a coffee shop, handed her a letter, and requested a photo, leaving her unsettled. During her second-round match against Karolina Muchova, Raducanu spotted him in the stands, broke down in tears, and hid behind the umpire’s chair, unable to continue playing effectively, saying, “I couldn’t see the ball through tears,” per Daily Mail. Dubai police issued a restraining order, and his details were shared globally with tennis authorities, per GB News.
Wimbledon’s Security Response
AELTC CEO Sally Bolton emphasized player safety, stating, “The safety and wellbeing of all players is our absolute top priority.” Wimbledon’s security includes 1,000 personnel, CCTV sweeps near players’ boxes, behavioral experts, and fixated threat specialists. Protection officers are stationed courtside, with enhanced presence on Centre and No.1 Courts, per BBC Sport. Bolton assured players, “If they are concerned, they should talk to us, and we can put bespoke arrangements in place,” per The Mirror. The incident underscores Wimbledon’s proactive measures, reviewed annually with the Met Police and other agencies, per The Independent.
Raducanu’s Ongoing Challenges
This marks Raducanu’s second stalking ordeal, following a 2022 case where another man, who walked 23 miles to her Bromley home, received a five-year restraining order, per The Mirror. Raducanu told BBC Sport she remains “wary,” avoiding solo outings and relying on enhanced protection, saying, “I try not to be careless about it because you only realize how much of a problem it is when you’re in that situation,” per Daily Mail. Her resilience is evident as she prepares for Wimbledon, despite a recent back injury withdrawal from the Berlin Open, per Express.
Broader Context
The incident highlights the vulnerability of tennis players, particularly women, with Katie Boulter also reporting online abuse and a 2024 stalking scare, per The Mirror. X posts, like @LauraScott__’s, praised Wimbledon’s vigilance, while @talkSPORT noted the breach attempt, reflecting public concern, per @LauraScott__ and @talkSPORT.
