British tennis star Emma Raducanu was visibly distressed during her second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships on February 18, 2025, when she spotted a man in the crowd who had previously exhibited “fixated behavior” towards her. The 22-year-old former U.S. Open champion struggled to see the ball through her tears and could barely breathe, leading to a temporary pause in the match.
The individual had followed Raducanu to tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, leaving personal letters and taking photographs. Security promptly removed him from the venue, and Dubai police detained him. Raducanu expressed gratitude for the support she received and is now preparing to return to the court at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
At Indian Wells, Raducanu faced a first-round exit, losing 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima. This defeat marked an unwanted record, as she now holds the lowest win percentage (42.3%) at the WTA 1000 level for a former Grand Slam winner.
Reflecting on her recent experiences, Raducanu acknowledged the challenges posed by the stalking incidents and her subsequent performances on the court. She remains determined to overcome these hurdles and improve her game with the guidance of her new coach, Vladimir Platenik.
