Emma Raducanu recalls debilitating fear after being confronted by ‘fixated’ fan during Dubai championships

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One-time U.S Open champion Emma Raducanu said she suffered a physical reaction at the Dubai championships last month after being confronted by a man that was "fixated" on the young tennis star, eventually resulting in him being detained by local law enforcement. 

Raducanu, 22, recalled the intense situation at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, her first tournament since the incident took place. 

Emma Raducanu celebrates during her match against Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 16, 2025. (Mike Frey-Imagn Images)

"I was obviously very distraught," Raducanu said. 

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"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. I was like, ‘I need to just take a breather here.'"

The WTA explained in a statement at the time that "a man who exhibited fixated behavior" approached Raducanu in a public space. The following day, that same man was spotted at her match in the first few rows. 

According to the Government of Dubai Media Office, the man "left her a note" and also took a photograph of her during one of those encounters. 

Emma Raducanu plays a forehand return to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)

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"Following Raducanu’s complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behaviour that caused her