Emma Raducanu Faces Disturbing Stalking Incident
Emma Raducanu, the talented British tennis star, has recently been embroiled in a chilling saga involving a stalker who followed her across various countries and continents. According to one of her former coaches, Roman Kelecic, the situation has been described as both “calculating” and “terrifying.” The 22-year-old athlete made the decision to drop charges against a man who was arrested in Dubai after he unexpectedly appeared at her second-round match against Karolina Muchova.
Initially, it was reported that Raducanu had been approached on the street by this individual, who handed her a letter and took photographs of her. This prompted her to notify tournament authorities about the unsettling encounter. However, Kelecic, who coached Raducanu during her junior years and was recently seen working with her in Abu Dhabi, has claimed that the man had been spotted at several other tournaments, beginning with Raducanu’s January loss in Singapore.
Details of the Stalking Incidents
“This man has followed her to Singapore, then to Abu Dhabi, where I was present, next to Doha, and now in Dubai—we were aware of his presence,” Kelecic explained during an interview with a Croatian media outlet, Net. “At first, we perceived him as a mere fan or admirer, considering Emma’s stature as a prominent tennis player with a massive following. However, things took a turn when he began getting physically close to her, initiating contact in the form of selfies and even hugging her.”
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) reported that they only became aware of the stalker’s presence on the day of the match. It was also revealed that the individual approached Raducanu in a restaurant at the tournament on the day prior to her match against Muchova, although officials were informed that the incident had occurred off-site. Kelecic noted, “That was the one moment in a month where I, along with the fitness coach and the security personnel assigned to her, were not by her side. It seemed as if he was assessing the situation, waiting for the perfect moment to get closer to her. His strategy was unnerving and meticulously planned.”
“It’s frightening how much thought and planning went into his approach. His strategy succeeded in getting him close to her,” Kelecic added. “That evening, we reported the man’s behavior immediately and again the following morning during her match because ensuring her safety is our utmost priority.”
Confronting the Stalker
Kelecic further revealed that images of the stalker had been distributed to security personnel before the match. Surprisingly, it was Raducanu herself who first spotted him in the crowd and requested that he be removed. “Three or four hours before the match, we had a photo of the stalker. Not just our team, but the entire tournament security was aware of his identity,” he stated. “During the first game, with the score at 15-15, Emma, positioned on the opposite side of the court, gestured to us. At that moment, we were unaware of what she was indicating. After losing the first game, she rushed over to us, visibly shaken, exclaiming, ‘There he is, there he is, there he is!'”
Following this incident, tournament security promptly escorted the man from the venue, and he was subsequently arrested by Dubai police. However, Raducanu later chose to drop the charges after the man, who is not believed to be a British or UAE national, signed an agreement pledging not to approach her again. The i Paper has reached out to the WTA for further comments regarding this distressing situation.
