British tennis star Emma Raducanu was targeted by a man exhibiting fixated behaviour during her second-round defeat at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The incident occurred on Monday, where the 22-year-old was approached by an individual who showed “fixated behaviour”.
Raducanu alerted the chair umpire to the situation and was comforted by opponent Karolina Muchova as the individual was removed from court three. Raducanu continued playing despite the distraction, but ultimately lost to Muchova in a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 match.
The incident led to a man being “subsequently ejected” from the stadium and banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment. It is reported that Raducanu has since left Dubai. In 2022, a similar incident occurred when a fan walked 23 miles to Raducanu’s home with a restraining order issued against him.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) prioritized player safety and worked closely with tournament organizers to ensure Raducanu’s well-being. The LTA also expressed support for Raducanu, stating that the incident highlights issues around player safety and will continue working with authorities and security providers to address these concerns.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cn4y7d03924o