Dubai, UAE – February 19, 2025 – British tennis star Emma Raducanu was confronted by a man displaying concerning behavior in a public area on Monday, February 17, during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The same individual was later spotted in the front rows during Raducanu’s match on Tuesday before being ejected from the venue.
WTA explains why Emma Raducanu was in tears during her second-round match at the #DDFTennis.
A clip showed her explaining the situation to the umpire. Before hiding behind the umpire seat. https://t.co/hw1P1pEYAz pic.twitter.com/YuqfLO4odq
— Victor Okechukwu (@Uzochuwu1) February 19, 2025
In response to the incident, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that the individual will be banned from all WTA events, pending a thorough threat assessment.
“Player safety is our top priority,” the WTA stated, emphasizing its commitment to providing robust security measures at international sporting events. The organization is actively working with Raducanu’s team to ensure her well-being and offer any necessary support.
WTA statement on the security incident in Dubai:
On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis…
— wta (@WTA) February 19, 2025
The WTA also reaffirmed its collaboration with tournaments worldwide to uphold strict security protocols and maintain a safe environment for all players.
Raducanu, 21, has not publicly commented on the incident, but sources close to her team indicate that she remains focused on her tournament performance.