British tennis star Emma Raducanu Breaks Down Mid-Game After Spotting 'Fixated' Man in Crowd
British tennis star Emma Raducanu broke down in tears during her second-round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Feb. 18 after spotting a "fixated" man in the crowd.
According to a statement on X from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), a man who had approached Raducanu, 22, in a public area the day before and "exhibited fixated behavior" was spotted in the "first few rows" of her game against Czech player Karolina Muchová.
The WTA confirmed the male spectator was "subsequently ejected" and "will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment."
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | February 19, 2025 9:11 PM
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[quote] Emma Raducanu handed letter at hotel by ‘stalker’ ejected from Dubai tournament
Emma Raducanu was handed a letter at her hotel by the same man “who exhibited fixated behaviour” at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday, security sources believe.
The 2021 US Open champion became distressed, and eventually broke down in tears, after spotting him among spectators in the early stages of her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova.
Sources based in Dubai have since told Telegraph Sport the British No 2 had recognised him as the same suspect who approached at her hotel on Monday and handed over a letter.
Minutes into her second-round encounter, Raducanu hid behind the umpire’s chair and looked panicked as the umpire communicated for help, before the man was led away by authorities.
Other sources close to the situation said Raducanu had been startled after seeing the man a number of times previously. During the match, she was able to compose herself to play again after being reassured that action was being taken by security. As investigations continued on Wednesday, Raducanu was flying back to London.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | February 19, 2025 6:15 PM
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Stalkers also attend tennis matches.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | February 19, 2025 7:26 PM
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Creepy.
I wonder what he wrote in the note?
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | February 19, 2025 7:58 PM
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[quote]Other sources close to the situation said Raducanu had been startled after seeing the man a number of times previously.
This is scary and awful, poor lady. The fact that the man was allowed to interact with her repeatedly is very concerning.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | February 19, 2025 8:15 PM
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R3, he wrote "I CAN SMELL YOUR CUNT" and signed it H. Lecter.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | February 19, 2025 8:22 PM
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“Multiple” Miggs on the next cell!
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | February 19, 2025 8:28 PM
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Wish I had some man fixated on me.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | February 19, 2025 8:31 PM
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No, you don't, R7. When it happens to you, it's anything but funny.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | February 19, 2025 8:47 PM
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R8, exactly, that's one reason this is so alarming.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | February 19, 2025 8:49 PM
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His was the only head that didn't move from side to side as the ball moved back and forth across the net.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | February 19, 2025 8:54 PM
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Security is still shockingly lax at many tournaments despite what happened to Monica Seles. There are undoubtedly other WTA players, and probably ATP players, too, who are currently dealing with stalkers. If enough come forward to discuss it, maybe something will change.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | February 19, 2025 9:11 PM
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