Alarming details have emerged following Emma Raducanu’s horrifying ordeal Tuesday when she broke down in tears after locating an individual at her Dubai Tennis Championships match who exhibited “fixated behavior” the day before.
Before competing in her second-round match against Czechia’s Karolina Muchova, the 22-year-old British athlete was approached by the man in question at her hotel and given a letter, the Daily Mail reported.
The WTA indicated in its statement Tuesday that Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, had been “approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior” on Monday.
Emma Raducanu’s fright when she realizes that a man who had approached her the day before in a public place in Dubai was attending her match against Muchova.
The man was fortunately arrested and banned from all WTA events.pic.twitter.com/63jdBNQb8V — We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 19, 2025
5 A visibly upset Emma Raducanu wiped away tears during her match at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Feb. 18, 2025. Sky Sports Tennis
The Daily Mail stated in its report Wednesday the “fixated behavior” is understood to be the hotel encounter.
During the first set of her match Tuesday, a visibly shaken Raducanu approached the umpire chair and hid behind the structure as the man in question was located in the stands at the venue.
Muchova consoled Raducau near the chair, as captured in footage of the match, before Raducanu wiped a stream of tears from her eyes as the scary scene unfolded with the individual being removed.
5 The 2021 U.S. Open champion approached the umpire chair after locating an individual in the stands who had reportedly approached her the day before. Sky Sports Tennis
5 The individual in question was ejected from Emma Raducau’s match. Sky Sports Tennis
The WTA confirmed in its statement Tuesday that “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,” the statement concluded.
5 Emma Raducanu had been competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Getty Images
5 Karolina Muchova, who consoled Emma Raducanu during the ordeal, won their second-round match on Feb. 18, 2025. Getty Images
Although the man’s identity has not yet been released, the Daily Mail reported Wednesday “it is understood he is not a British national.”
Tuesday’s incident comes roughly three years after Amrit Magar, a former delivery driver, received a five-year restraining order for stalking Raducanu’s London home.
He left notes and gifts at the property.
Raducanu, who fell to Muchova in Tuesday’s match, is currently ranked 61st in the world.