Emma Raducanu experienced a distressing incident during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships. The British tennis star was left in tears after noticing a man in the front row who had displayed concerning behavior towards her. Reports indicate that the individual had previously approached Raducanu, left her a note, taken photographs of her, and acted in a manner that caused her significant distress.
During the match, Raducanu informed the chair umpire about the man’s presence, prompting tournament authorities to intervene. The individual was removed from the stadium, and Dubai Police later detained him. However, in a recent development, Raducanu has chosen not to pursue legal action against the man. Instead, he has signed a formal agreement promising to maintain his distance from her. Despite the emotional toll the experience took on Raducanu, she has opted to move on and put the incident behind her.
After losing her match in straight sets, Raducanu took to social media to express her gratitude for the support she received. She acknowledged the difficult nature of the experience but stated that she was proud of her resilience in continuing the match. She also extended her appreciation to her opponent, Karolina Muchova, for showing sportsmanship and support.
This was not the first time Raducanu has faced such an ordeal. Following her victory at the 2021 US Open, she quickly became one of the most recognized athletes in the world. Unfortunately, this level of fame also attracted unwanted attention. In 2022, a man named Amrit Magar was convicted of stalking Raducanu in the UK. Security footage captured him visiting her home on multiple occasions, leaving gifts, and even stealing items from her property. As a result, he was sentenced to 18 months of community service and placed under an eight-week curfew.
Emma Raducanu has dropped charges against the man who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph and engaged in behaviour that caused her distress, Dubai authorities confirm.
However, the individual has “signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her”.
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) February 20, 2025
The recent incident in Dubai may have brought back painful memories for Raducanu, but she remains determined to move forward. With upcoming tournaments on the horizon, she will aim to refocus on her game and continue competing at the highest level.