A man was ejected from the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday after exhibiting “fixated behavior” towards British tennis star Emma Raducanu, the Women’s Tennis Association said in a statement.
The man approached Raducanu, 22, in a public area on Monday, before showing up in the first few rows of Raducanu’s second-round match against Czech player Karolina Muchova on Tuesday, the WTA said.
Raducanu broke down in tears at the start of the match, before she approached the umpire, appearing to explain the situation, and hid behind the umpire’s chair.
The man was then removed from the match and will be banned from all WTA events “pending a threat assessment,” the WTA said.
“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events,” the association said. “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,” the WTA added.
A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of tennis in the U.K., said in an email that it has “extensive security arrangements” for its players that are “under constant review.”
“This incident once again highlights issues around safety that all players, but female players in particular, can face,” the spokesperson said. “We have support available for British players and have been in contact with Emma and her team following the events in Dubai.”
Tuesday night’s incident was not Raducanu’s first troubling encounter with a fan.
In 2022, a man was found guilty of stalking Raducanu after showing up to her home on three separate occasions and leaving unwanted gifts and flowers. He received a five-year restraining order.
Raducanu rose to global stardom when she won the U.S. Open in 2021 at the age of 18. She has since accrued over 2.5 million followers on Instagram, picked up sponsorships with luxury brands, including Tiffany & Co., Dior and Porsche and attended the Met Gala.
Raducanu ultimately lost the match on Tuesday, 7-6(6), 6-4. She is currently ranked as the 61st best women’s singles player in the world, according to the WTA.
The post ‘Fixated’ tennis fan ejected from match after leaving Emma Raducanu in tears appeared first on NBC News.
