DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Emma Raducanu found herself in a deeply distressing situation during her second-round match at the Dubai Championships, prompting her to approach the chair umpire in tears due to concerns over a man displaying “fixated behaviour,” as reported by the Women’s Tennis Association on Wednesday.
The incident unfolded in a perplexing manner on Tuesday when the 2021 U.S. Open champion approached the umpire after just the second game. She exchanged a few words before stepping aside into a small space behind the official’s chair, protected by the barrier netting adjacent to Court 2.
Raducanu, who was still in her teens when a man was convicted of stalking her at her family home in Britain just a year earlier, returned to the match after a brief interruption, trailing 2-0. Ultimately, she lost a thrilling contest against the 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova with scores of 7-6 (6), 6-4.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the WTA explained that Raducanu had been approached by a man exhibiting unsettling behaviour in a public environment on Monday. They clarified that this same individual was spotted in the front rows during her match the following day and was promptly removed from the venue.
“He has been banned from all WTA events while a threat assessment is conducted,” the statement confirmed.
Upon receiving Raducanu’s concerns during the first set of her night match, the chair umpire swiftly alerted the tournament organizers. Meanwhile, Muchova made her way over to comfort the visibly shaken 22-year-old British player.
After composing herself with a towel, Raducanu nodded and resumed play, choosing not to comment on the incident right away.
The WTA assured that they are collaborating with Raducanu and her team to ensure her safety and provide any necessary support.
Rising to global prominence in 2021 by triumphing at the U.S. Open as a qualifier—a truly remarkable feat—Raducanu has faced challenges since, failing to progress beyond the third round at a major tournament and enduring lengthy periods of recovery from injuries.
