Raducanu’s Emotional Breakdown Over Stalker Revealed

Raducanu’s Emotional Breakdown Over Stalker Revealed, Emma Raducanu’s stalker followed her to multiple tournaments before confronting her at the 2025 Dubai Championships, leading to a distressing mid-match breakdown.
The stalker was issued a restraining order but recently attempted to buy Wimbledon tickets, which were blocked by tournament security.
Raducanu now travels with increased protection and emphasizes the importance of vigilance for female athletes facing similar threats.
Despite the ordeal, she has returned to competition, including Wimbledon 2025, and is partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in a high-profile US Open doubles event.

In February 2025, British tennis star Emma Raducanu faced a harrowing ordeal when a stalker disrupted her match at the Dubai Championships, leaving her in tears and hiding behind the umpire’s chair.

The incident, which unfolded in front of a global audience, highlighted the dangers athletes—especially women—face from obsessive fans. Months later, as Raducanu prepares for Wimbledon 2025, new developments reveal the stalker’s continued attempts to contact her, including a failed bid to secure Wimbledon tickets.

This article delves into the full timeline of events, Raducanu’s emotional response, the security measures now in place, and how she is reclaiming her career with resilience.

The Dubai Championships Breakdown: What Happened?

During her second-round match against Karolina Muchova, Raducanu suddenly froze, visibly distressed, before retreating behind the umpire’s chair. She later revealed she had spotted the same man who had been stalking her across multiple tournaments in the crowd.

“I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish.’ I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe,”

Raducanu confessed.

The stalker had previously approached her in a Dubai café, handing her a letter and taking an unauthorized photo. Despite reporting him, security protocols failed to prevent him from attending her match the next day.

Who Is the Stalker?

The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, had followed Raducanu to tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai before the confrontation. Described as exhibiting “fixated behavior,” he was ejected from the Dubai match and later issued a restraining order by Dubai police.

Raducanu chose not to press charges, but his name was circulated among tennis authorities to prevent further access. Despite this, he recently attempted to enter Wimbledon’s public ballot—a move swiftly blocked by the All England Club’s security team.

“Wimbledon and everyone did an amazing job. I got a notification, the police contacted me, and told me everything was OK,”

Raducanu said, praising the tournament’s vigilance.

Increased Security and Psychological Impact

Since the incident, Raducanu has traveled with heightened security and avoids being alone in public.

“I’m always with someone and always being watched,” she admitted. “I try not to be careless because you only realize how much of a problem it is when you’re in that situation.”.

The ordeal also took a mental toll, with Raducanu describing the weeks following the incident as “very emotional” and “quite tiring.” She took a brief hiatus before returning to compete at Indian Wells, determined not to let fear dictate her career.

Raducanu’s Comeback and Wimbledon 2025

Despite the trauma, Raducanu has shown remarkable resilience. She reunited with childhood coach Nick Cavaday for the grass-court season and is set to compete at Wimbledon, which begins today (June 30, 2025).

Her focus remains on tennis, including an exciting mixed doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.