Tennis player Emma Raducanu had a terrifying and vulnerable experience on Tuesday, breaking down in tears during her match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after seeing a stalker in the crowd. The WTA number 61 was playing against Karolína Muchová when at 2-0 down, she stopped the match and walked up to the umpire, visibly distressed.
Raducanu, struggling to hold back her emotions, was clearly shaken by the situation. Moments later, security removed an individual from the venue, and the WTA confirmed the man had been harassing the athlete. After taking a moment to recover with her rival’s support, Raducanu returned to the match, though she ultimately lost 7-6 (6) and 6-4.
The MTA explained in the statement that the individual had approached Raducanu in a public area earlier that day. "On Monday, 17 February, a man approached Emma Raducanu in a public area and displayed a fixed attitude. This same individual was identified in the front rows during Emma's match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected," it read.
Thankfully, they are doing what they can to keep her safe. "He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment. Player safety is our top priority and tournaments are briefed on security best practices for international sporting events. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide her with the necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams around the world to maintain a safe environment for all players," the statement continued.
After the moment, which has gone viral and started a discourse about the fear women and women in sports experience, Raducanu shared a statement on Instagram: “Thank you for the messages of support. Yesterday’s experience was difficult. I’m fine and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the beginning of the match. Thanks to Karolína for being a great athlete and good luck for the rest of the tournament.”
As noted by DailyMail, she has already dealt with a stalker in the past. In 2022, delivery driver Amrit Magar, repeatedly visited Raducanu's home and left unwanted gifts and cards, stole property from her porch, and was given a five-year restraining order. Raducanu had previously shared how Magar’s actions made her feel unsafe and constantly on edge, saying, "I have felt creeped out... I feel very apprehensive if I go out, especially if I am on my own."
It is unfortunately not a one-off experience. In 1993, Monica Seles, a former world No 1. from Serbian Yugoslavia was stabbed in the back during a changeover at an event in Hamburg. She did not play professional tennis for over two years and struggled with depression and an eating disorder. The fighter was able to return in 1995, and although she claimed her ninth major championship at the 1996 Australian Open, she was never the same competitor and played her last match in 2003.
Who is Emma Raduncanu?
Raducanu’s rise to fame began at just 13 years old. Born in Toronto to a Romanian father and Chinese mother, she moved to the UK at age two and started playing tennis at five. Her career skyrocketed when she made history in 2021 by winning the US Open as the first player in the Open era to do so after coming from the qualifying rounds.
She is estimated to have won $3.6M in different tournaments. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and earned numerous accolades, including the WTA Breakthrough Player of the Year award. Raducanu was also honored with an MBE for her contributions to tennis in 2022.
In July 2024, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) named her Female Player of the Month, recognizing her outstanding performance in reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and returning to the top 100 of the world rankings.