Emma Raducanu became visibly distressed while competing in the Dubai Tennis Championships, and not because of the game.
The British athlete suddenly broke down in tears during her Feb. 18 match against Czech player Karolína Muchová and ultimately had to take a break. However, the Women’s Tennis Association later revealed the reaction stemmed from a “security incident” involving a spectator Raducanu had encountered the previous day.
“On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior,” the group said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”
The organization said the man, who was not identified, “will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
The WTA added, “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.”
Source link
