Emma Raducanu’s terrifying ordeal: Here’s what happened in Dubai and how previous stalker left her on an ‘edge’
Emma Raducanu’s second-round match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships was briefly held up and the British player was clearly upset and crying following an incident.
But what happened?
The WTA has now confirmed that there was a security incident involving “a man who exhibited fixated behaviour” and officials have launched a full investigation while they have also vowed to ensure Raducanu and her team’s “well-being and provide any necessary support” during the rest of their stay in the United Arab Emirates.
The individual first approached Raducanu on Monday in a public area and the WTA revealed: “This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.”
The WTA 1000 match got off to a later than planned start as it was delayed due to poor weather in and around the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.
Raducanu was broken in the second game of the match as Muchova opened a 2-0 lead and after the lost game the 22-year-old went over to the chair umpire and had a brief discussion.
The world No 61 was in distress and then worryingly went to hide behind the umpire chair. The official then chats via her walkie talking to other presumably the tournament director and security.
Muchova approaches Raducanu to see what is going on and then consoles her rival.
The official then gets off her chair and also chats with Raducanu who then returns to her bench wiping away tears with her towel.
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The encounter was held up for several minutes and Muchova held her own serve before breaking Raducanu’s serve again for a 4-0 lead.
But the 2021 US Open winner managed to regain her composure and broke in game five and again in game nine to take the opening set via the tie-breaker.
She then opened a 5-4 lead and had a set point at 6-5, but this time Muchova held firm and turned things around to win the tie-breaker 8-6.
Raducanu was broken in the opening game of the second set and this time Muchova didn’t relinquish her advantage as she went on to win 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in two hours and four minutes.
Previous stalker case
It was a brave performance from Raducanu given the circumstances and it should not be forgotten that the 2021 US Open winner was stalked as a teenager and a man was given a “five-year restraining order and sentenced to community service”.
During a 2022 court case, it was heard that the man walked 23 miles to Raducanu’s home, took her father’s shoe as a souvenir and at one point left a note telling her he “deserved love”.
After the man was sentenced, Raducanu issued the following statement: “Since all this has happened, I have felt creeped out. I feel very apprehensive if I go out, especially if I am on my own.
“Because of this I feel like my freedom has been taken away from me. I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I feel on edge and worried this could happen again. I don’t feel safe in my own home which is where I should feel safest.”
There is no doubt this contributed to Raducanu feeling unsafe and “constantly looking over her shoulder” during the Dubai incident.
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