Terrified Emma Raducanu in tears on court after being targeted by man with 'fixated behaviour' in Dubai

Terrified Emma Raducanu broke down in tears on court after being targeted by a man who "exhibited fixated behaviour" at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The British No.2 suffered a straight-sets defeat to Karolina Muchova in their second-round clash but became emotional during the early stages of the hard-fought match. The 22-year-old made her way to the side of the court to speak to the umpire with tears in her eyes. Czech star Muchova even came over to console the Briton, who hid behind the umpire's chair and called the trainer.

At the time, it was unclear what caused Raducanu to become distressed. But tennis authorities have now confirmed that a spectator has been banned from all WTA events.

A statement by the WTA read: "On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.

"Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players."

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