Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation, has recently faced a harrowing experience that has left her and her team deeply concerned. A stalker, described as exhibiting “fixated behavior,” has been following Raducanu across multiple countries, including Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai.
The Stalker’s Pursuit
The ordeal began at the Singapore Open, where Raducanu first noticed the man. Initially, her team thought he was just an enthusiastic fan. However, as he continued to appear at her matches and public appearances, their perception changed. The stalker followed Raducanu to the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi, the Qatar Open in Doha, and finally the Dubai Duty Free Championships.
Alarming Encounters
Raducanu’s coach, Roman Kelecic, revealed that the stalker had been getting physically close to her, taking selfies and attempting to hug her. The situation escalated during Raducanu’s second-round match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Duty Free Championships. Raducanu, trailing 0-2 in the first set, panicked and hid behind the umpire’s chair, breaking down in tears. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) later disclosed that the man had confronted her in public.
A Calculated Plan
Kelecic described the stalker’s actions as “terrifying” and “calculated.” He explained that the man had been assessing the situation and looking for the best moments to get closer to Raducanu. The stalker even approached her at a restaurant the day before her match against Muchova. Despite having a photograph of the man and alerting tournament security, it was Raducanu who ultimately spotted him during her match.
This is what he said: “This man followed her back to Singapore, to Abu Dhabi where I was with her, again in Doha, now in Dubai and we noticed him.
But initially we thought he was a fan, an admirer, because Emma is a really big tennis star with a huge fan base. Until he got physically close to her, started having contact in the form of selfies, hugging, etc.”
The Aftermath
The stalker was eventually detained by Dubai police and has been banned from future tennis tournaments. Raducanu has since dropped the charges against him. However, the incident has sparked widespread concern among fans and the tennis community. Many have criticized the lack of security and called for stricter measures to protect players from obsessive individuals.
Conclusion
Emma Raducanu’s terrifying experience with a stalker highlights the need for increased security and vigilance in the world of professional tennis. As Raducanu continues her career, her safety and well-being must remain a top priority. The tennis community must learn from this incident and take proactive steps to ensure that players can compete without fear of harassment or harm.
Emma Raducanu in 2025
Now the world no.61, Emma played her last match on the 18th of February when she capitulated to world no.17 Karolina Muchova 7-6(6) 6-4 in the 2nd round in Dubai (draw).
Presently, during this year Emma has managed to achieve a composed 3-5 record.