British tennis star Emma Raducanu has revealed that she struggled to breathe and was left in tears after spotting a man “fixated” on her during a match at the Dubai Championships last month.
The 2021 US Open champion recounted the distressing experience at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, marking her first tournament since the incident.
“I was obviously very distraught,” Raducanu told British reporters.
“I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish.’ I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe.”
The man, who had previously approached Raducanu at a café, was later seen in the spectator stands before being ejected from the venue.
Increased Security for Raducanu at Indian Wells
Following the incident, Raducanu has been assigned five extra security guards at Indian Wells, where security is overseen by Bob Campbell, a former Secret Service agent who has been on the tour since 2013.
The 21-year-old has previously dealt with stalking incidents. In 2022, an obsessive fan was convicted and given a restraining order after repeatedly visiting her home.
During the Dubai match, opponent Karolina Muchova offered support during an unscheduled break before Raducanu returned to play but ultimately lost 7-6 (6), 6-4.
Upcoming Match Against Uchijima
Raducanu will face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in California on Thursday. The winner will go on to play third-seeded Coco Gauff, with the tournament’s top 32 players receiving byes into the second round.
