DUBAI – It was concern over a person who’d exhibited “fixated conduct” that prompted Emma Raducanu to method the chair umpire in tears and take an unscheduled break in her second-round match on the Dubai Championships.
There was no speedy rationalization Tuesday when the 2021 U.S. Open champion walked over to the umpire after the second recreation, stated a couple of phrases after which stood in a small area between the again of the official’s chair and the world separating the courtroom from spectators.
Raducanu, who was nonetheless a youngster in 2022 when a person in Britain was convicted of stalking her at her household dwelling the earlier 12 months, returned to play after a short pause at 2-0 down and finally misplaced 7-6 (6), 6-4 to 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova.
A number of hours later, organizers of the ladies’s tennis tour issued a press release explaining that Raducanu was approached in a public area Monday “by a person who exhibited fixated conduct” and “this similar particular person was recognized within the first few rows throughout Emma’s match on Tuesday … and subsequently ejected.”
“He can be banned from all WTA occasions pending a menace evaluation.”
The chair umpire referred to as event organizers instantly when Raducanu reported her issues within the first set and Muchova walked over to console the 22-year-old British participant.
Raducanu then picked up a towel, wiped her face, nodded and continued the match. She did not instantly touch upon the incident.
The WTA stated it was working with Raducanu and her group “to make sure her well-being and supply any essential help.”
Raducanu rose to fame in 2021 by successful the U.S. Open as a qualifier, one of many probably the most unlikely achievements in tennis. She hasn’t superior previous the third spherical at a significant since then and has spent lengthy stints recovering from accidents.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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