MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — At the Miami Open, Iga Swiatek has been provided with enhanced security measures following a distressing verbal incident during a practice session. The situation arose after a man, who had previously sent the five-time Grand Slam champion harassing messages on social media, confronted her, as reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, referencing her representatives.
This incident echoes a recent event concerning 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu, who had to deal with a stalker being forcibly removed from her match just a month prior in Dubai.
While specific details regarding the incident involving Swiatek are not confirmed, spokespeople for both the Miami Open and the WTA Tour have noted their commitment to player safety during the hard-court tournament, which concludes this weekend.
Despite being the No. 2 seed, Swiatek faced a challenging match and was eliminated in the quarterfinals by wild card Alexandra Eala on Wednesday.
“The safety of our players is our utmost concern,” stated the WTA. “We collaborate closely with tournament organizers and their security teams to implement best practices for international sporting events, ensuring safety and well-being for all participants. While we keep specific security protocols confidential, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to provide a secure environment for players and attendees alike.”
The Miami Open reiterated their position, saying: “We take every incident involving player and attendee safety with the highest seriousness. Our team consistently assesses potential threats and applies appropriate preventative measures. For the efficiency of our operations, we do not publish the details of our security strategies.”
Reflecting on her experience at the Dubai Championships, Raducanu shared the emotional toll, stating that she felt suffocated and teared up upon noticing the stalker in the stands during her match.
She communicated her concerns to the chair umpire, resulting in the man’s removal and subsequent arrest by law enforcement.
Last year, an obsessive admirer was issued a restraining order for making repeated visits to Raducanu’s residence.
