Iga Swiatek reveals her own ‘scary’ experience after Emma Raducanu’s shocking stalker incident in Dubai
Emma Raducanu broke down in tears because of a potential stalker during her second-round match in the Dubai Open.
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Both Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu have encountered stalkers (Images via X)
Iga Swiatek made her feelings known on Emma Raducanu‘s stalking incident in Dubai. Raducanu crashed out of the WTA 1000 event after her straight-set defeat to Karolina Muchova in the second round.
During the first set, she spotted a man who had approached her the previous day, following which, she suffered from a panic attack. She informed the chair umpire about the spectator, hid herself behind the umpire’s chair, and started to cry. Muchova, surprised by what she was seeing, tried to console the 22-year-old.
Later police escorted the man out of the court. WTA issued a statement regarding that man who ‘exhibited fixated behavior’, banning him thenceforth from all events. Raducanu too addressed the incident, thanking Kuchova and the WTA for their help. Swiatek, when asked about it following her win over Dayana Yastremska in the third round, empathized with the Brit and revealed that she too had escaped from a stalker.
We were able to avoid one, like, incident that might have been scary back in the day when I was hosting my own event in Poland. Yeah, there are fans that are kind of, I don’t know, everywhere. But I’m pretty sure that they don’t have any bad intentions. Obviously, you know, we are public persons, so we should always keep our eyes open and ready to react if we feel uncomfortable. I’m sure it must have been tough for Emma.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
The former World No.1, who beat Victoria Azarenka in the first round, will lock horns with 12th seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals. Swiatek was a semifinalist in last year’s Dubai Open and reached the final in 2023.
Elena Rybakina reacts to Emma Raducanu’s encounter with stalker
Elena Rybakina survived a scare in the third round of the Dubai Open. She and former World No.2 Paula Badosa played a pair of tie-breakers before the former clinched the win to set up a quarterfinal clash with Sofia Kenin. Following her match, Rybakina too was asked about Emma Raducanu‘s stalking case.
I feel safe in Dubai. It’s like my second home, so I really like it here. Of course, when it’s [a] crowd, you never know who you can meet. Yeah, for me it’s okay.
Elena Rybakina said at the press conference
Rybakina is searching for her first title of the season and is yet to reach a final. Raducanu, on the other hand, hasn’t progressed beyond the third round of all the tournaments she played.
Before the Dubai Open, the 2021 US Open champion suffered three back-to-back first-round defeats, following her Australian Open exit. She lost to Iga Swiatek in her first-ever third-round clash at Melbourne Park.
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Gouri Das
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