INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Emma Raducanu expressed her distress during a recent match, revealing that she “couldn’t see the ball through tears” and struggled to breathe upon noticing a man who appeared to be “fixated” on her.
The British tennis sensation, who clinched the U.S. Open title in 2021, found herself in a heightened state of anxiety during her match at the Dubai Championships last month due to the unsettling presence of this spectator.
This individual had previously approached Raducanu earlier in the tournament and was subsequently removed from the venue after she alerted the chair umpire during her second-round clash against Karolina Muchova. Following this, he was taken into custody by Dubai police and required to sign a document agreeing to maintain a distance from Raducanu, as the WTA described his conduct as “fixated behavior.”
“I was obviously very distraught,” Raducanu conveyed to British reporters at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, marking her return to the circuit since the alarming incident.
“Spotting him from the very first game left me feeling overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure how I would be able to finish. I couldn’t see the ball through my tears and could barely catch my breath. I needed to pause and gather myself,” she recounted.
Despite regaining some composure to continue after the man was escorted out, Raducanu ultimately lost the match 7-6, 6-4.
“It was an extremely emotional experience,” she reflected. “Afterwards, I did shed tears, but not solely due to my defeat.”
Raducanu shared with the BBC that she believed the situation “could have been managed better,” but expressed relief that security measures have since been enhanced.
“I’ve become much more vigilant. I no longer do things solo; I’m always accompanied and under watch,” she mentioned to the BBC.
In 2022, a fan’s obsession led to a restraining order being issued after he visited her residence multiple times.
Looking ahead, Raducanu is set to face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, who is ranked just three positions higher than her at 52nd globally, in the first round in California this Thursday. The winner will take on third-seeded Coco Gauff, with all top 32 players receiving first-round byes.
