KUALA LUMPUR — Emma Raducanu suffered a second-round defeat at the Dubai Championships amidst an unsettling incident that saw a man with a history of fixated behaviour ejected from the stands.
The 22-year-old British player, who was leading 2-0 in the first set against Karolina Muchova, became visibly distressed and approached the umpire before briefly taking cover behind the chair.
Play was halted as the tournament organisers were called, and Muchova walked over to console Raducanu as she wiped away tears.
Despite composing herself and rallying from 4-0 down to force a tiebreak, Raducanu eventually fell 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to the 14th seed.
here is the situation 🙁 https://t.co/z4Vl23j9DL pic.twitter.com/2C4K2oAEgC
— Lisa 🧚🏻♀️ (@lisa_talking) February 18, 2025
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), earlier today, confirmed that the man removed from the match had approached Raducanu in a public area on Monday.
“This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday and subsequently ejected,” the WTA said in a statement. “He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
The WTA added that it was working with Raducanu and her team “to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.”
This is not the first time Raducanu has been targeted. In 2022, a London court sentenced Amrit Magar, a former delivery driver, to an 18-month community service order and imposed a five-year restraining order after he stalked the then-teenage Raducanu.
Magar loitered outside her home on multiple occasions, left unwanted gifts and messages, and stole property.
Raducanu, who won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021 in one of the sport’s most improbable triumphs, has since struggled with injuries and has yet to progress beyond the third round at a Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, Muchova advances to face world No. 53 McCartney Kessler, who stunned 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff 6-4, 7-5. — February 19, 2025