A match between former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and French Open finalist Karolína Muchová was interrupted Wednesday after Raducanu observed a person who had allegedly been following her throughout her time in Dubai. On Thursday, the person was given a restraining order.
Based on a statement from Dubai authorities, police detained the person, and whereas Raducanu later selected to drop fees, he “signed a proper endeavor to keep up distance from her.”
Throughout Wednesday’s match, Raducanu approached the chair umpire through the first recreation of her Spherical of 32 match on the Dubai Tennis Championships, which was held at a court docket with out a grandstand. Per The Telegraph, Raducanu had beforehand seen the person plenty of instances, and he personally handed her a letter at her lodge on Monday.
The alleged stalker was ejected from the amenities after Raducanu spoke with the chair umpire.
Emma Raducanu’s fright when she realizes {that a} man who had approached her the day earlier than in a public place in Dubai was attending her match in opposition to Muchova.
The person was thankfully arrested and banned from all WTA occasions.pic.twitter.com/63jdBNQb8V
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 19, 2025
The 22-year-old Raducanu, from England, continued to play, however she misplaced to Muchová in straight units 7-6, 6-4. The subsequent day, she posted a message on her Instagram story calling the expertise troublesome:
“Thanks for the messages of assist. Tough expertise yesterday however I will be okay and happy with how I got here again and competed regardless of what occurred in the beginning of the match. Thanks to Karolína for being a fantastic sport and better of luck to her for the remainder of the event.”
This is not the primary time Raducanu has handled stalker habits. Three years in the past, there was a five-year restraining order against a 35-year-old man convicted of stalking her. In that case, the person reportedly appeared at her home three totally different instances.
The WTA additionally released a statement addressing the incident, describing the person as having “exhibited fixated habits” and saying it had banned him from all WTA occasions pending a menace evaluation:
On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public space by a person who exhibited fixated habits. This identical particular person was recognized within the first few rows throughout Emma’s match on Tuesday on the Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He might be banned from all WTA occasions pending a menace evaluation.
Participant security is our high precedence, and tournaments are suggested on safety finest practices for worldwide sporting occasions. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her staff to make sure her well-being and supply any obligatory assist. We stay dedicated to collaborating with tournaments and their safety groups worldwide to keep up a secure atmosphere for all gamers.
Raducanu is presently ranked No. 61 within the WTA singles rankings after coming back from a number of surgical procedures final 12 months. She skilled a breakthrough in 2021 when she received the US Open at 18 years outdated, however has struggled to progress and keep wholesome since then.
