British tennis player Emma Raducanu broke down in tears during a tournament in Dubai upon spotting a man among the audience who had been stalking her. This was reported by The Athletic.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) released a statement indicating that on Monday, February 17, a man approached Raducanu in a public space, exhibiting "obsessive behavior." The following day, the same individual was seen in the front rows at the tournament where Raducanu was playing.
The second-ranked British player had lost to Czech player Karolína Muchová the day before, with a score of 6:7 (6:8), 4:6. In the first set, Emma left the court in tears and hid behind the umpire's chair. The tournament was halted until security escorted the man away.
The association announced that he would be banned from all WTA events until the circumstances were clarified and the threat assessed.
Raducanu's reaction is understandable, especially considering that she had previously dealt with a stalker when an unknown man pursued her in 2022. Former Amazon delivery driver Amrit Magar visited her home three times, left notes and gifts, and stole items left on the porch, including her father's shoe as a "souvenir."
At that time, Raducanu expressed her fear of going out alone. The court issued a restraining order against the stalker, prohibiting him from approaching her for five years and sentencing him to 18 months of community service.
Emma Raducanu is 22 years old; she won the US Open in 2021. In the latest WTA ranking, Raducanu is placed 61st.
Emma Raducanu