Emma Raducanu’s Frightening Stalker Ordeal Puts Player Safety in the Spotlight
It has been a difficult week for British tennis star Emma Raducanu. After early exits in Middle Eastern tournaments, her focus on bouncing back was shattered by a distressing mid-match incident. On February 19, while competing against Karolina Muchova, Raducanu became visibly distressed, stopping the match in tears as she pointed out an individual in the crowd displaying what she described as “fixated” behavior. The unsettling moment resulted in the spectator being removed from the stadium.
This was not Raducanu’s first such experience. In 2022, she had faced a similar situation when a stalker walked miles to her home and left unwanted gifts. That individual was eventually served a restraining order. Now, Raducanu’s team is speaking out about the latest disturbing event.
Former Coach Speaks Out on the Incident
In an interview with Croatian news outlet Net, Roman Kelecic, Raducanu’s former fitness coach, who recently accompanied her in Abu Dhabi, detailed the tense situation. He described how Raducanu, visibly shaken, took shelter behind the umpire’s chair after raising concerns about a troubling presence in the audience.
Kelecic revealed that the same man had been following Raducanu for months, appearing at tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and now Dubai. “We noticed him,” Kelecic said, explaining that the team initially mistook him for an ordinary admirer. “But initially we thought he was a fan, an admirer, because Emma is a really big tennis star with a huge fan base.”
At 22 years old, Raducanu is one of the most recognizable faces in tennis, boasting 2.6 million Instagram followers. Her warm and friendly personality makes her easily approachable to fans. However, this particular individual crossed a dangerous line.
A Calculated Approach
What made this stalker particularly concerning, according to Kelecic, was his strategic behavior. He explained that the individual had been carefully observing Raducanu, waiting for the right moment to get close to her. The coach described it as a calculated and terrifying strategy. He noted that the first encounter happened when Raducanu was alone, without her team or security present, which suggests the individual was assessing her vulnerabilities before making his move.
Following this alarming event, the WTA took immediate action, banning the individual from attending future tournaments. The organization also stressed its commitment to player safety, ensuring that security measures would be strengthened.
Roman Kelecic, who was coaching Emma Raducanu in Abu Dhabi, says her “stalker” was watched her in Singapore, AD and Doha before approaching her in Dubai.
“He had a strategy that was terrifying, he thought everything through, calculated it.”https://t.co/jzuDbMbtql
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) February 21, 2025
Support from the Tennis Community
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about security concerns for professional tennis players. Iga Swiatek, currently ranked World No. 2, expressed her full support for the WTA’s swift action. Speaking to The National on February 19, she stated:
> “I know the WTA banned this person from going on-site anywhere on any tournament. So I guess the reaction was pretty solid. I like that because it’s WTA’s responsibility to keep us safe.”
Swiatek also shared her own personal experience with unsettling fan interactions, recalling a similar incident that occurred during a 2022 charity event in Poland.
Adding to the discussion, Mirra Andreeva highlighted another growing problem—threats from online sports bettors. She revealed that these types of messages are a near-daily occurrence for players. In one particularly disturbing example, Andreeva recounted how, at just 14 years old, she received a chilling threat that read:
> “Look around because I’m going to find you and I’m going to cut your arms.”
Despite these ongoing security risks, Andreeva noted that she generally feels safe at tournaments, thanks to security measures already in place.
Raducanu’s Response
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Raducanu took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support. She also praised Muchova’s sportsmanship during the match. In her post, she wrote:
> “Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.”
As she processes this unsettling experience, the tennis world continues to rally behind her. Swiatek’s words reflect the collective sentiment:
> “I’m sure it must have been tough for Emma.”
While it remains uncertain how this incident will impact Raducanu in the long term, one thing is clear—player safety in professional sports is more important than ever.