‘He Tracked Me Everywhere’: Emma Raducanu Shares Concerns Over Disturbing Fan Experience in Dubai Before Indian Wells Comeback

Emma Raducanu has confessed that during her traumatic experience with an obsessive fan at the Dubai Tennis Championships, she “couldn’t see the ball through her tears.”

The 22-year-old found herself in the limelight after stopping play to seek safety behind the umpire’s chair while a fan was escorted from the venue.

This individual was subsequently released by local authorities without charges after he consented to sign a document prohibiting him from coming near the British tennis player.

As she prepares to commence her campaign at the Indian Wells event this Thursday, reports suggest that Raducanu has been offered up to five additional staff members to ensure her safety.

However, the former British No. 1 has chosen not to accept extra security at the Californian event.

Raducanu found comfort in the presence of two security personnel as she spoke about the incident in her first interview in over two weeks.

“I was obviously very upset,” Raducanu reflected.

“I noticed him in the first game of the match, and I thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish this.’

“I was competing against Karolina, who’s ranked in the top 17 in the world… and I couldn’t see the ball. I thought to myself, ‘I seriously need to take a breather,’ and then the first four games vanished from me.

“I didn’t feel present on the court, to be honest, and I’m not really sure how I managed to regroup.”

Raducanu disclosed that prior to the match, she had been approached by the unnamed man while she was sitting alone in a café.

According to her coach, Roman Kelecic, the man had followed Raducanu through four consecutive WTA events before confronting her at the café, where he also presented her with a letter.

“There were two encounters, and it was the second one that truly unsettled me,” she admitted.

“The first felt more like a regular fan interaction, except he disclosed that he’d been tracking me everywhere. Then he lingered around the café for some time… the second encounter was genuinely concerning.”

She eventually fell just short in her second-round match in Dubai, losing 7-6(6), 6-4.

Despite admitting she broke down in tears after the match, Raducanu expressed her pride in how she coped under the circumstances.

“I think it was quite an achievement for me to continue playing throughout the match given what had transpired,” she stated.

“I completed the match and even had some chances in the first set, but it was an incredibly emotional moment.

“After the match, I did shed tears, but it wasn’t strictly due to my defeat. It was more about processing all the emotions from the previous weeks.”

“I needed a week off to take a breather, and since arriving here, I feel much better.”

Having made a remarkable entry into the professional scene at such a young age, Raducanu has garnered plenty of dedicated support globally.

At the Australian Open, an enthusiastic fan named Mark can be seen cheering in the front row wearing an ‘Emma’ shirt.

But Raducanu has noted the distinction between Mark’s support and the unsettling attention from other fans she has encountered.

“The thing with Mark is, he’s loud, he’s present, and he’s in the front row sporting an ‘Emma’ shirt,” Raducanu elaborated.

“He’s nothing like the person lurking in the background, who might take actions that feel a bit disturbing.

“It’s more often the quieter ones that I’d say are more frightening.”