A match featuring former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and French Open finalist Karolína Muchova was halted on Wednesday due to a concerning situation involving an alleged stalker.
In the first game of her Round of 32 match at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Raducanu alerted the chair umpire about a man who had reportedly been following her throughout her stay in Dubai.
According to The Telegraph, Raducanu had encountered the individual multiple times, including an incident where he handed her a letter at her hotel on Monday. After her report, the alleged stalker was removed from the venue, and investigations into the matter are currently underway.
Despite the unsettling situation, the 22-year-old British player continued to compete but ultimately lost in straight sets, with scores of 7-6, 6-4.
After the match, Raducanu took to Instagram to share her feelings about the experience.
“Thank you for the messages of support. It was a difficult experience yesterday, but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match. Thank you to Karolína for being a great sport, and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
This incident marks not the first time Raducanu has faced stalker-related concerns. Three years ago, she was granted a five-year restraining order against a 35-year-old man who had been convicted of stalking her, having appeared at her home on three separate occasions.
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According to the WTA, the individual approached the British tennis player in a public area on February 17 and was later spotted in the stands during her match on February 18. He has been banned from all WTA events while a threat assessment is conducted.
The WTA emphasized that player safety is its highest priority and that it would provide guidance on security best practices for international events.
