Emma Raducanu has given her first statement since an incident during her match in Dubai – where a man exhibited ‘fixated behaviour’ – left her in tears, calling the incident a ‘distressing experience’.’
During her first-round match at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai, at 2-0 down in the first set to Karolina Muchova, Raducanu appeared in tears whilst she was speaking to the umpire. The Brit stood behind the umpire’s chair as Muchova consoled her.
It later emerged that a man in the crowd, who had already approached the Brit the day prior, was displaying ‘fixated behaviour’ towards her, leading to her emotional state.
The crowd member was duly removed from the stands by the tournament officials.
“Thank you for the messages of support,” the Brit stated. “Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
“Thank you to Karolina [Muchova] for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
In the end, the Czech was victorious 7-6(6), 6-4 against the 2021 US Open champion in their opening round match in Dubai.
Shortly after the incident, the WTA released an official statement on the matter: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour.
“This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.
“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.
“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events.”
The association went on to state: “The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”
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Full WTA statement and video after shocking Emma Raducanu incident in Dubai
Raducanu’s statement comes amidst a past battle against a man who received a five-year restraining order and was sentenced to ‘community service’ for stalking her.
During a 2022 court case, it was heard that this man walked for 23 miles towards the then-teenager’s home, before leaving various notes and stealing her father’s shoes.
After the man was sentenced, Raducanu stated: “Since all this has happened, I have felt creeped out. I feel very apprehensive if I go out, especially if I am on my own.
“Because of this I feel like my freedom has been taken away from me. I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I feel on edge and worried this could happen again. I don’t feel safe in my own home which is where I should feel safest.”
Emma Raducanu is next scheduled to play at Indian Wells, which will be held from March 2–16.
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