DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a gripping encounter at the Dubai Championships, Emma Raducanu faced off against Karolina Muchova, where an incident involving a disruptive spectator added emotional weight to the match.
The 2021 U.S. Open champion visibly struggled with her emotions during the second game on Tuesday, prompting a brief halt in play as she approached the umpire to address her concerns.
Following a discussion with the umpire, who quickly communicated with tournament officials, Raducanu found herself in a small area between the umpire’s chair and courtside seating, where Muchova came over to offer her support.
After a moment of composure, Raducanu grabbed a towel, wiped away her tears, and resolutely continued with the match.
In an impressive comeback, the British star battled back from a 0-4 deficit to push the match into a tiebreaker but ultimately fell short, losing 7-6 (6), 6-4 to Muchova.
In a follow-up statement, the women’s tour organizers revealed that Raducanu had previously been approached by a man exhibiting “fixated behavior” who was later identified and ejected from the match.
“He will be banned from all WTA events while we conduct a threat assessment,” they announced.
The WTA further stated they are collaborating with Raducanu and her team to ensure her safety and provide any necessary resources during this challenging time.
Muchova, the 14th seed, advanced to face No. 53-ranked McCartney Kessler, who made waves by defeating the 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-5.
Notably, this marks Gauff’s first loss to an opponent outside the top 50 since her defeat to Sofia Kenin (ranked 128th) at Wimbledon in 2023.
Earlier in the day, second-seeded Iga Swiatek delivered a commanding performance against Victoria Azarenka, winning decisively 6-0, 6-2, and will now compete against Dayana Yastremska for a place in the quarterfinals.
Other players advancing include Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Paula Badosa, all vying for tournament glory.
