Emma Raducanu was insulted by a man in Dubai. © ANSA / ALI HAIDER

Insulted by spectator: Raducanu cries on court

British tennis player Emma Raducanu burst into tears during her second round match at the tournament in Dubai, apparently because of the behavior of a spectator.

19. February 2025

From: dpa/sn

The man was subsequently banned from the stands. He will be excluded from all WTA events until it is clear whether there is a threat, the professional organization WTA announced.

In the first set of her match against Czech Karolina Muchova, Raducanu cried when the score was 0:2 and spoke to the referee, who was using her radio. Raducanu went behind the referee's chair. Muchova came to her opponent and comforted her, and the referee also looked after Raducanu. The 22-year-old wiped her face several times with a towel, continued the match and lost 6:7 (6:8), 4:6.

Professional organization: Raducanu receives support

In its statement, the WTA wrote that the spectator had already shown "fixated behavior" towards Raducanu in a public area on Monday. The same man was identified and excluded from Tuesday's match. The safety of the players is the highest priority, the WTA wrote. Raducanu is receiving the necessary support to ensure her well-being.

After losing to Muchova, Raducanu was eliminated in Dubai. © ANSA / ALI HAIDER

In 2022, a man was sentenced to community service, unpaid, for stalking Raducanu and was also banned from contacting him for five years. There was initially no information about the identity of the man who was banned in Dubai.

Raducanu sensationally won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021. She was subsequently unable to repeat this success and repeatedly struggled with injuries.