Emma Raducanu Reflects on Distressing Dubai Incident, Prepares for Indian Wells Return
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has opened up about the emotional strain she experienced during a recent match in Dubai, where she encountered what the WTA described as a “fixated” individual. The unsettling presence left her struggling to focus, as she revealed she “couldn’t see the ball through tears” and had difficulty breathing.
The incident occurred in the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where Raducanu faced Czech player Karolína Muchová. Early in the match, she became visibly distressed and sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair. The Dubai government later confirmed that the individual in question had been issued a restraining order and was banned from future tournaments.
“I was obviously very distraught,” Raducanu told reporters, as quoted by Reuters. “I saw him in the first game of the match and thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish.’ I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe.”
Despite regaining composure and pushing the first set to a tie-break, Raducanu ultimately lost in straight sets. Now, two weeks later, she is set to compete at Indian Wells, marking her return to the court following the ordeal.
“It was a very emotional time,” she said in her first public comments on the matter. “After the match, I broke down in tears, but not just because I lost. The past few weeks had been overwhelming, and I needed time to process everything. Taking a week off helped, and now I feel a lot better.”
Increased Security Measures
Raducanu revealed that the same individual had appeared at her previous tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha before showing up in Dubai. She expressed concerns about how the situation was handled, telling BBC Sport that it “could have been dealt with better.”
Since that incident, I’ve taken extra precautions and have greater security. All we can do is learn from what happened and improve how we respond rather than dwell on it. Now, the issue is being handled more effectively, which is reassuring. I’m much more aware of my surroundings and rarely go anywhere alone.
The WTA, which governs women’s tennis, stated that it was only informed of the individual’s presence 24 hours after he had approached Raducanu in a public area in Dubai. Following her match, the organization confirmed that he exhibited “fixated behavior” and was removed from the tournament.
“Player safety is our top priority, and we continuously work with tournaments on security best practices,” the WTA stated. “We are actively supporting Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and are committed to maintaining a safe environment for all players.”
Looking Ahead
As Raducanu prepares to return to competition, she is set to face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in her opening match at Indian Wells. A potential second-round clash against American third seed Coco Gauff, a fellow former US Open champion, could follow.
“I’m really happy to be in Indian Wells—it’s my favorite tournament outside the Grand Slams,” Raducanu shared. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be ready to compete so soon after what happened in Dubai, but I’m glad I made the decision to come. I feel much better being here, and I’m happy on the court.”