New Delhi: Emma Raducanu endured a distressing moment during her second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships when she approached the umpire in tears over concerns regarding a man in the crowd. The British tennis star was visibly emotional briefly halted play before resuming her match against Karolina Muchova.
The unsettling episode unfolded early in the match when Raducanu was trailing 2-0 in the first set, walked over to the chair umpire and expressed her concerns. She then stood behind the official’s chair appearing distressed. Her opponent Muchova showed great sportsmanship and came over to offer comfort before play resumed.
WTA explains why Emma Raducanu was in tears during her second-round match at the #DDFTennis.
A clip showed her explaining the situation to the umpire. Before hiding behind the umpire seat. https://t.co/hw1P1pEYAz pic.twitter.com/YuqfLO4odq
— Victor Okechukwu (@Uzochuwu1) February 19, 2025
Following the match, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed that the man in question had previously approached Raducanu in a public area on Monday and was later spotted in the first few rows of her match on Tuesday. He was subsequently removed from the venue and will face a ban from all WTA events pending a full threat assessment.
Raducanu’s past experience
This incident echoes a disturbing chapter in Raducanu’s past. In 2022, a man in Britain was convicted of stalking her at her family home making this latest encounter particularly distressing. While Raducanu did not immediately comment on the situation the WTA assured that they are working closely with her and her team to provide necessary support.
Despite the disruption, Raducanu showed resilience and continued playing and fought back from 4-0 down to make it 5-4 in the first set. However, Muchova ultimately took the set in a tense tie-break before securing a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory. The Czech star will now face American McCartney Kessler who pulled off an upset win over Coco Gauff in the third round.
WTA take on the incident
In response to the incident, the WTA reaffirmed its commitment to player safety, stating, “Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events.” They also emphasised their ongoing collaboration with tournament organizers and security teams to ensure a safe environment for all competitors.
WTA statement on the security incident in Dubai:
On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis…
— wta (@WTA) February 19, 2025
Raducanu, who made history at the U.S. Open triumph in 2021, has since faced injury setbacks and inconsistent form. This unsettling incident in Dubai adds another challenge to her journey but her resilience on and off the court remains evident.
Emma Raducanu tearfully halted play at the Dubai Tennis Championships over fan concerns, leading to the man’s ejection. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
