Emma Raducanu hides from ‘fixated’ fan mid-match in Dubai, reduced to tears – watch video | Tennis News
Emma Raducanu experienced a distressing incident during her match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
The British tennis player broke down in tears after losing the first two games of the opening set. She sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair before returning to her seat to dry her tears.
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“It doesn’t look good for Raducanu, who appears to be in tears here. Very, very concerning. You never want to see a player in tears on court. This is meant to be a fun game,” remarked the TV commentator.
Security staff removed a fan from court 2 who had shouted at Raducanu during the match.
Despite the incident, Raducanu continued playing and fought back from a 4-0 deficit, then 5-2, to force a tie-break. However, she missed a set point and ultimately lost the first set.
Muchova secured the victory with a 7-6 6-4 score on a rain-interrupted day.
The WTA issued a statement addressing the situation: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.
“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her wellbeing and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”
Raducanu, who made history as the first qualifier to win a grand slam at the 2021 US Open, has faced challenges with consistency and injuries since her breakthrough.
The match result saw Muchova advance to face McCartney Kessler, who defeated world number three Coco Gauff 6-4 7-5.
This match marked Raducanu’s 13th wildcard entry in 18 WTA tournaments and her fifth loss in six matches. She is expected to compete next at Indian Wells.
Before this defeat, Raducanu had ended a four-match losing streak by defeating Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-2 in the first round.
“I was really pleased with how I fought and competed against Maria. She’s a top player, been as high as three in the world. I’m just really proud of my performance,” Raducanu stated about her victory over Sakkari.
