Late Tuesday evening, the WTA released a statement about a security incident at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships impacting Emma Raducanu’s safety and well-being.
It reads:
“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 Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.
“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.”
Raducanu played on after a brief stoppage at 0-2, before No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova later closed out a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory. Muchova, who consoled the former US Open champion while security addressed the concern, advanced to face McCartney Kessler.