Emma Raducanu was visibly upset during her match against Karolina Muchova at the WTA 1,000 Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday, before court security ejected a male spectator who had displayed “fixated behaviour” toward her.
Raducanu approached the umpire in tears during the second game in the match, retreating behind the official’s chair. The umpire spoke on a walkie talkie before a brief pause in the match, during which Muchova approached Raducanu. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which governs women’s professional tennis, subsequently issued a statement saying that the same spectator had approached Raducanu earlier in the tournament.
“On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour,” the statement read.
“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 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.”
In February 2022, a man was given a five-year restraining order after turning up at Raducanu’s family home on three occasions.
Despite falling 0-4 behind after the incident during her match against Muchova, Raducanu recovered to send the first set to a tiebreak, ultimately losing the match 7-6(6), 6-4.
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