Raducanu: ‘I Couldn’t See the Ball Through Tears’ Amid Stalking Ordeal at Dubai Open

Emma Raducanu has revealed the harrowing details of a stalking incident that left her in tears and struggling to breathe during her Dubai Open match last month. The 22-year-old Briton said she was left distraught after spotting a “fixated” man in the crowd—someone who had previously approached her twice off-court—causing her to break down just two games into her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova.

“I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, I don’t know how I’m going to finish. I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe,” Raducanu told reporters ahead of her return at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Clearly shaken, she approached the umpire’s chair in distress but ultimately decided to play on after the man was removed from the arena. Despite managing to regain her composure, she fell 7-6, 6-4 to Muchova.

After the match, Raducanu opted not to press charges, but the individual has been banned from attending future tournaments. Reflecting on the ordeal, she admitted that the emotional weight of the experience had taken its toll.

“It was a very emotional time,” she said. “After the match, I did break down in tears, but not necessarily because I lost. There was just so much emotion in the last few weeks, and I just needed time to process everything.”

While the incident raised concerns about security measures in professional tennis, Raducanu confirmed that steps have since been taken to enhance her protection.

“It could have been dealt with better,” she acknowledged. “Since that incident, I’ve definitely got increased attention and greater security. Now it’s being handled better, and that’s what’s important to me.”

The 2021 US Open champion also revealed she has adjusted her personal safety habits, saying: “I’m always very aware now. I don’t do things on my own anymore—I always have someone with me, and I’m always being watched.”

Now shifting her focus back to competition, Raducanu will face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round at Indian Wells, where victory would set up a high-profile clash with third seed Coco Gauff. After enduring one of the most distressing moments of her career, Raducanu is determined to put the ordeal behind her and reclaim her form on the court.