Following a disturbing incident involving a stalker, British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is set to receive heightened protection at the upcoming Indian Wells Open. A man, noted for his “fixated behaviour,” had reportedly followed the young athlete to her previous four tournaments, causing escalating concern for her safety.
The alarm bells first rang during Raducanu’s recent match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai WTA 1000 event. As the match unfolded, Raducanu, visibly upset, sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair, sparking an unscheduled break. The umpire engaged in a prolonged conversation with security officers and both players. Consequently, a man was escorted out of the stadium, and it was later discovered that he had first approached Raducanu in public the preceding day.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) issued a statement revealing the unsettling details: “On February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour. The same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships the following day and was subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
The man in question, a tourist visiting Dubai, has now been served a restraining order, the issuance of which led to the dropping of charges against him.
Post this distressing episode, Raducanu returned to the UK and is now preparing for her next competition at the Indian Wells WTA 1000 tournament, slated for March 5-16. The Times reports that the 22-year-old is expected to receive enhanced security measures, including the addition of up to five extra security guards at the venue.
Moreover, there is speculation that some of these guards may also accompany the 2021 US Open champion to her off-site accommodation. The security arrangements will be overseen by Bob Campbell, the WTA Tour’s vice-president of security and a former United States Secret Service agent with extensive experience.
Roman Kelecic, Raducanu’s former junior coach, who worked with her at the tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, revealed the stalker’s alarming persistence. “This man followed her to Singapore, to Abu Dhabi where I was with her, again in Doha, now in Dubai and we noticed him,” Kelecic said. Initially, he was assumed to be a fan due to Raducanu’s soaring popularity, but his actions became progressively more invasive.
Kelecic further explained how the stalker meticulously planned his actions, waiting for the opportune moment to get closer to the young star. “He had a strategy that was terrifying, he thought everything through, calculated it,” Kelecic added, underscoring the severity of the situation.
This unsettling episode underscores the importance of maintaining robust security measures for athletes, especially high-profile figures such as Raducanu. As the young tennis star continues to shine on the global stage, ensuring her safety is of paramount importance, with authorities now stepping up their efforts to protect her in the wake of this shocking ordeal.
