Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu was lowered to tears after she noticed a person who confirmed “fixated conduct” towards her throughout Tuesday’s match in Dubai
The 22-year-old appeared visibly rattled at the beginning of her second-round match in opposition to Karolina Muchova on the Dubai Tennis Championships, prompting her to abruptly cease play within the first set.
Raducanu had tears streaming down her face as she tried to compose herself. She then walked towards the official earlier than hiding behind the umpire’s chair.
Raducanu stated she had noticed a person sitting within the “first few rows,” with whom she had a weird encounter on Monday. She added that his presence triggered her to concern for her security, the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) stated in a press release.
The WTA added that the crazed fan had approached Raducanu in a “public space” on Monday and “exhibited fixated conduct” towards her.
Shortly after the umpire signaled for organizers and safety to take away the spectator, Raducanu was consoled by her opponent behind the choose’s chair.
Officers then had the person faraway from the premises.
The previous world quantity 10, for her half, was seen wiping tears from her face with a towel earlier than telling the umpire that she was able to resume the match.
The match concluded at midnight in Dubai after two hours and 7 minutes of play. Raducanu rallied from 4-0 right down to pressure a tiebreaker however finally misplaced 7-6 (6), 6-4.
The tennis group stated the person “will probably be banned from all WTA occasions pending a menace evaluation.”
It added that it’s “actively working with Emma and her workforce to make sure her well-being and supply any crucial assist.”
“Participant security is our high precedence, and tournaments are suggested on safety finest practices for worldwide sporting occasions,” the WTA shared.
“We stay dedicated to collaborating with tournaments and their safety groups worldwide to keep up a protected surroundings for all gamers.”
It’s not Raducanu’s first run-in with an obsessive fan.
In December 2022, the tennis participant was compelled to file a restraining order in opposition to a former Amazon supply driver who stalked her at her London house.
The obsessed fan left notes, flowers, and Christmas decorations and, on one specific mission, stole considered one of her father’s footwear as a memento.
Raducanu was left “creeped out” and scared to be house alone over the incident.
The stalker was finally sentenced by a British court docket in 2022 to group service and a five-year restraining order.
Raducanu, who ranked 61 on the earth, shot to international stardom after profitable the US Open as a qualifier in 2021.
Nonetheless, the tennis star has struggled in majors for the reason that huge win and has spent lengthy stints battling accidents — lacking many of the 2023 season following wrists and her left ankle surgical procedure.