Emma Raducanu was visibly distressed during her Dubai Tennis Championship second round clash with Karolina Muchova – with the WTA later issuing a statement to clarify the reason why
Emma Raducanu was left in tears during her match at the Dubai Tennis Championship and seen hiding behind the umpire’s chair due to a “fixated” fan.
The British tennis sensation, 22 was 2-0 down in the opening set against Karolina Muchova when she abruptly stopped playing and walked to her chair.
Raducanu then broke down, seeking solace behind the umpire’s chair as she cried, with her opponent Muchova coming over to offer comfort. Initially, it was unclear why Raducanu was so distressed.
But after a discussion with a team member, she reported a security issue to the umpire, later prompting a statement from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) about the frightening incident.
Raducanu continued to wipe away tears while talking to the official, causing alarm among commentators and fans alike. The WTA later clarified the situation, stating a spectator had been removed from the event and banned from future tournaments due to ‘exhibited fixated behaviour’, reports the Express.
The WTA said: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.
“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment. Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events.
“The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”
Despite the worrying incident, Raducanu displayed immense grit by continuing to play on an outside court where she staged a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down to push the first set against Muchova into a tiebreak. Muchova, however, managed to secure the tiebreak 8-6, taking the lead before the ensuing set.
Raducanu put up a valiant fight in the second set but ultimately fell 6-4 to the world-ranked No. 14 seed at the Dubai tournament, marking her exit. In spite of the loss, Raducanu demonstrated signs of improvement following a four-match slump.
After suffering a straight-sets defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open, the currently ranked world No. 60 managed a first-round victory over Maria Sakkari in the Emirates, despite the absence of a coach.
Czech powerhouse Muchova is set to face McCartney Kessler in round three after Kessler stunned fellow American Coco Gauff earlier in the competition.