DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A troubling incident involving a man exhibiting unsettling behavior led to a visibly upset Emma Raducanu seeking assistance from the chair umpire during her second-round match at the Dubai Championships, as disclosed by the Women’s Tennis Association on Wednesday. The situation unfolded when the 2021 U.S. Open champion approached the umpire in tears following the second game, expressing her distress over the unsettling behavior observed.
On Tuesday, spectators were left puzzled as Raducanu, who was just a teenager in 2022, made her way to the umpire after the initial games, exchanged a few words, and sought refuge in a confined space between the official’s chair and the adjacent court barrier on Court 2. The episode unfolded against the backdrop of a previous incident in Britain where a man had been convicted of stalking Raducanu at her family residence the year before.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Raducanu courageously resumed play after a brief interruption with a score of 2-0 against her, ultimately succumbing to a 7-6 (6), 6-4 defeat against the 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova. In a subsequent statement, the WTA clarified that Raducanu had encountered the unsettling individual in a public area on Monday, prompting immediate action. The same individual was identified in close proximity during Raducanu’s match on Tuesday and was promptly removed from the premises.
The WTA announced a ban on the individual from all future events pending a security assessment. The chair umpire swiftly alerted tournament officials upon receiving Raducanu’s distress report during the first set of the evening match, with Muchova showing support by approaching and comforting the distraught British player. Raducanu composed herself, wiped away her tears with a towel, and resumed playing without immediate comment on the harrowing incident.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the WTA reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with Raducanu and her team to ensure her well-being and offer any necessary support. Raducanu captured global attention in 2021 with her remarkable U.S. Open victory as a qualifier, marking one of the most improbable success stories in tennis. However, since then, she has faced challenges in replicating that success, hampered by injuries that have hindered her progress past the third round in subsequent major tournaments.
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