Emma Raducanu Faces Disturbing Incident on Tour
No one would have faulted Emma Raducanu for choosing to leave the court and catch the first flight back to London. Having been away from home since December, she spent Christmas and New Year in the southern hemisphere, followed by tournaments in Melbourne, Singapore, Doha, and finally Dubai—a slow and exhausting journey back to the UK that culminated in a frightening experience on Tuesday.
Raducanu had noticed a man approaching her during the previous day. According to a statement from the WTA, he exhibited “fixated behavior”. This term is more than just an unusual phrase; it is a clinical description employed by psychiatric professionals to indicate “an intense preoccupation pursued to an abnormally intense degree.” This language is often associated with discussions of stalking—something Raducanu is unfortunately no stranger to, having dealt with a stalker who visited her home multiple times, leading to a criminal conviction in 2022. Such fixations can escalate into threats and acts of violence, and while the incident in Dubai did not appear to reach that alarming level, it understandably raised significant concerns.
Feeling threatened, Raducanu found herself cowering behind the umpire’s chair, struggling to control her sobbing and breathing. At that moment, being 2-0 down in the first set against No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova was of little importance. The fear was palpable.
Despite the troubling encounter, Raducanu pointed the man out to the WTA, yet he somehow ended up sitting in the small stand at the back of Court 2 the following day. With hours of rain delays providing ample time for authorities to address the situation, one must wonder why he was allowed to remain. After Raducanu identified him, he was swiftly removed, but the question lingered: why was he there in the first place? The WTA has Bob Campbell, a former US Secret Service agent, as their security director, and one can only expect a thorough review of this incident. A designated mental health care provider accompanies players on tour to offer necessary support.
Raducanu’s Resilience Shines Through
In the midst of a match and a crisis, Raducanu remarkably chose to continue playing. She did not call for a medical timeout or take any longer than necessary to have the disruptive individual removed. Instead, she took a brief moment to wipe away her tears and steady her breathing before returning to the court to battle Muchova.
Initially, Raducanu fell to a 4-0 deficit, but she fought back, winning six of the next eight games to force a tie-break, even earning a set point—though she was unable to convert it. With newfound determination, Raducanu scrapped valiantly against Muchova’s uniquely varied game, reminiscent of a throwback to an era of different playing styles. Muchova ultimately edged out the first set and took an early lead in the second, but the statistics indicated that Raducanu was in the match: she won 79 points to Muchova’s 78.
In the tumultuous years that followed her spectacular 2021 US Open victory, Raducanu has faced harsh criticism and been labeled a “quitter.” With 12 mid-match retirements and several pre-tournament withdrawals, fans and critics alike have raised questions about her commitment to the sport. However, anyone who watched her struggle in this match could not doubt her tenacity. Raducanu fought diligently to reclaim her position on the court, demonstrating composure at the baseline while visibly navigating her tumultuous thoughts between games. Each time she returned to her chair, she appeared a little more composed and determined. Had she managed to convert that 5-2 lead in the first-set tie-break, it would have been a triumphant statement against her detractors.
This incident brought to mind a conversation I had with her in New York, almost a year after her extraordinary run to the US Open title. It was a typical August evening in the Big Apple—stifling humidity enveloping the city, illuminated by the constant glow of lights and excitement. Raducanu appeared weary and somewhat pained at the mention of the phrase “defending champion.”
Her meteoric rise to fame had transformed into a heavy burden. She shared her feelings of being “constantly on guard” and having no time to unwind. Earlier that year, she expressed to Bromley Magistrates’ Court in a statement that she no longer felt safe in her own home due to the actions of Amrit Magar, a 35-year-old former delivery driver who was sentenced to a five-year restraining order for stalking her. Raducanu reminisced about her 18-year-old self, “just swinging, with no one knowing who she is.” Now, with fame came a lack of privacy, leaving her longing for the simple pleasures of teenage life—like hiding away in her room.
The unfortunate reality of this latest, distressing incident is that Raducanu seemed to have begun reclaiming some of her personal space and autonomy. In recent months, she had reduced her off-court commitments and expressed joy in taking solitary walks or enjoying coffee alone during her tournament downtime. She has also enlisted a full-time fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, who previously worked with tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka. Their shared love of travel and sushi has fostered a fast friendship, and he serves as a crucial motivator for her.
Outwardly, everything appeared to be falling into place, and she seemed more settled and content than ever. One can only hope that the unsettling events in Dubai do not disrupt the balance she has worked so hard to achieve.
