Emma Raducanu breaks down in tears at airport as she arrives back home in London
Emma Raducanu had a harrowing experience with a stalker who showed 'fixated behaviour' at the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
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Emma Raducanu at Heathrow Airport (via X)
Emma Raducanu has arrived home in London after a harrowing experience with a stalker who showed ‘fixated behaviour’ at the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The 22-year-old broke down in tears as she reunited with her father, Ion, at Heathrow airport.
After a series of opening round exits in prior tournaments, Raducanu secured a straight sets win over Maria Sakkari in the opening round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. In the next round of the tournament, Raducanu suffered a 7-6(6), 6-4 loss to Karolina Muchova.
After losing the first game of her match against Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu came crying to her team as she noticed a certain man sitting in the front row. This man had followed her to Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai, displaying repeated behaviours such as clicking selfies, hugging her, and getting close to her.
Emma Raducanu crying in Heathrow airport pic.twitter.com/rIBlsz4zj0
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Raducanu then approached the chair umpire in tears just two games into her second-round defeat before the individual in question was subsequently ejected from the court by security and banned from all future WTA events “pending a threat assessment”. Her opponent, Muchova, also came over to console her.
Emma Raducanu thanked fans and Karolina Muchova for their support
Emma Raducanu took to Instagram on Wednesday to thank fans and Muchova for their support following the distressing incident. She described it as a difficult experience but was nonetheless proud of how she came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match. The former US Open champion also wished Muchova best of luck for the rest of the tournament.
The WTA provided extra security to Raducanu when they learned of the situation involving the man who approached her. Dedicated security escorted her to and from the court and remained at the court when her match was taking place Tuesday night.
The WTA released a statement reiterating that player safety is their “top priority” and that they would be working with Raducanu and her team to ensure she receives all the support she may require. The man was given a restraining order and banned by the WTA from subsequent matches.
Dubai Police have since confirmed that while Raducanu later chose to drop the charges, the man signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her. This incident came three years on from a man being handed a five-year restraining order after walking 23 miles to Raducanu’s London home. Raducanu will next be in action at the Indian Wells, scheduled to commence on March 5.
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Lakshya Chopra
(2651 Articles Published)