Former Wimbledon victor, Marion Bartoli, has courageously opened up about her experience with a stalker in the wake of the recent incident involving British tennis star Emma Raducanu at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Raducanu, 22, found herself in a distressing situation when she noticed a man who had previously approached her, watching her second-round match against Karolina Muchova from the stands, leading to a temporary halt of the game.
Raducanu’s emotional stress was apparent as she was seen in tears, taking refuge behind the umpire’s chair. The match resumed once the man was removed from the premises by Dubai police. While Raducanu has chosen not to press charges, a restraining order has been implemented to safeguard the US Open 2021 champion.
In light of these events, Marion Bartoli, the world’s former No. 7 and the 2013 Wimbledon champion, revealed her own encounter with a stalker during her professional career. Bartoli, now 40, disclosed that she was persistently trailed by a fan during the grass-court season of 2007. This was a significant period in Bartoli’s career as she advanced to her maiden final at the All England Club.
Bartoli recalled the unnerving incident, stating, “A person found a way to infiltrate the grounds, posing as a ball kid and a groundsman. He even purchased the same kit and managed to get onto my court disguised as a groundsperson.” Bartoli recognized the man from her first-round match against Flavia Pennetta and immediately alerted the All England Club and tournament organizers. The individual was identified and barred from the club, with his picture placed at all entrances to prevent any further intrusion.
Reflecting on the distressing experience, Bartoli admitted it was incredibly stressful, especially since she was only 22 at the time. She drew parallels between her ordeal and the recent one faced by Raducanu, expressing admiration for Raducanu’s bravery in continuing to play despite the circumstances.
Following the ordeal, Raducanu is set to participate in the Indian Wells tournament commencing next week. To ensure her safety, additional security measures will be in place for the world No. 55, who had reached the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament back in 2024. It has also been announced that Raducanu will be accompanied by interim coach Tom Welsh at the tournament, following her split with former coach Nick Cavaday.
