Emma Raducanu faced a distressing situation at the Dubai Tennis Championships when a man displaying "fixated behaviour" approached her during her match.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has now imposed a ban on the individual, preventing him from attending any WTA events pending a threat assessment.
The incident unfolded during Raducanu’s second-round match against Karolina Muchova.
The 22-year-old British tennis star was seen hiding behind the umpire’s chair just two games into the match after spotting the same man who had approached her in public the previous day.
She immediately alerted the chair umpire, leading to the individual’s removal from the court.
The WTA released a statement confirming the incident and emphasised that player safety remains their top priority.
The association stated that it is working closely with Raducanu and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.
The statement also reaffirmed the WTA’s commitment to collaborating with security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for players.
Despite the unsettling situation, Raducanu continued with her match but eventually lost to Muchova in straight sets, 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.
The crowd showed their support as she returned to the court after the interruption.
This is not the first time Raducanu has dealt with such incidents.
In 2022, she was the target of a stalker who walked 23 miles to her home, leaving her feeling unsafe. The man was later issued a five-year restraining order.
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