Emma Raducanu had an emotional moment during her second-round match at the Dubai Championships, when she approached the chair umpire in tears and took an unscheduled break. There was no immediate explanation at the time, but it later emerged that Raducanu’s distress was due to concern over a man who had exhibited “fixated behavior.”
In 2022, Raducanu had previously been targeted by a stalker who was convicted of following her to her family home. During her match on Tuesday, after speaking with the umpire, she stood near the official’s chair and the barrier netting before returning to play, trailing 2-0. She eventually lost 7-6 (6), 6-4 to 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova.
On Wednesday, the women’s tennis tour released a statement revealing that the man who approached Raducanu in a public space on Monday was the same individual seen in the first few rows during her match on Tuesday. He was identified and subsequently ejected from the venue.
After Emma Raducanu raised concerns about a man exhibiting “fixated behavior” during her match at the Dubai Championships, the chair umpire immediately contacted tournament organizers. Karolina Muchova, her opponent, approached Raducanu to offer comfort. Raducanu then took a moment to collect herself, wiping her face with a towel before resuming the match. She didn’t speak about the incident right away.
The WTA issued a statement confirming that the man would be banned from all WTA events while a threat assessment is conducted. The organization also emphasized that it was working closely with Raducanu and her team to ensure her safety and provide any necessary support.
Raducanu, who made history by winning the 2021 U.S. Open as a qualifier, has faced challenges since then, struggling with injuries and not advancing past the third round at a major tournament.