Emma Raducanu Shaken After Disturbing Stalker Incident in Dubai
Emma Raducanu was left visibly distressed during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships after spotting a man in the crowd who had previously approached her.
The British star broke down in tears early in the match, even seeking refuge behind the umpire’s chair as emotions overwhelmed her. It was later revealed that the man, who had interacted with Raducanu the previous day, was seated in the front rows. The WTA confirmed that he exhibited “fixated behavior” and was swiftly ejected from the venue, with a ban imposed on him for future events.
Raducanu’s Former Coach Speaks Out
Roman Kelecic, Raducanu’s former coach, was in attendance in Dubai and disclosed that event organizers had been alerted about the man’s presence before the match.
“Three or four hours before the match, we had a photo of that stalker,” Kelecic told i. “Not just us—security at the tournament had his photo, and everyone knew who he was.
“The first game starts, two points in, and Emma is signaling something from the court. We didn’t realize what it was at the time. Then, after losing the first game, she ran to us, crying and shouting: ‘Here he is, here he is, here he is.’”
Authorities Take Action
Following the incident, Dubai police arrested the man, but Raducanu later chose to drop the charges after he signed a formal undertaking to stay away from her.
The Dubai Government Media Office released a statement confirming the swift response:
“Dubai authorities have taken immediate action regarding an incident involving British tennis star Emma Raducanu. Following her complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who had approached her, left her a note, taken her photograph, and engaged in behavior that caused her distress.
“While Raducanu later decided to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments.”
Raducanu’s Response
After the match, Raducanu took to social media to express her gratitude for the support she received and commended Muchova for her sportsmanship.
“Thank you for the messages of support,” Raducanu wrote on Instagram. “It was a difficult experience yesterday, but I’ll be okay. I’m proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
“Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport, and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
