Emma Raducanu has opened up about a harrowing experience during the Dubai Tennis Championships, where a stalker disrupted her second-round match against Karolina Muchová. The 22-year-old British tennis star described the ordeal as deeply unsettling, revealing that she could “barely breathe” and struggled to see the ball through her tears after spotting the man in the crowd.
Raducanu recounted that she had previously been approached twice by the individual off-court, and his presence during the match left her feeling distraught. She paused the game to compose herself, but the emotional toll was evident as she later broke down in tears—not solely due to the loss, but because of the overwhelming emotions from the recent events.
The man was promptly removed from the venue by security and was subsequently banned from future tournaments. Raducanu chose not to press charges, focusing instead on her recovery and well-being. She has since returned to action at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, expressing that she feels “a lot better” after taking time off to regroup.
This incident highlights the increasing concerns regarding the safety of female athletes, with experts emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures to protect them from such threats.
