Emma Raducanu in tears after being targeted by man showing 'fixated behaviour' during match as WTA issue statement
The Women's Tennis Association have released a statement addressing British star Emma Raducanu tearful reaction during her second round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
On Monday, Raducanu was knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championships after losing her sound round match to Czechia's Karolina Muchova.
In a shocking moment early in the match, the British star was clearly emotional as she was seen in tears as she hid behind the tennis umpire's chair.
And now, the exact reason for the moment has been revealed, as the WTA have released a full statement addressing what happened.
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In an official statement on Wednesday morning, the WTA confirmed that Raducanu's emotional reaction was caused by her spotting a man in the crowd 'who exhibited fixated behaviour' the day before.
The 22-year-old immediately alerted the chair umpire to the man's presence and was comforted by the official and her opponent as staff removed the individual from court three.
The statement read: "On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour.
"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."
Since winning the US Open at just 18-years-old, Raducanu has established herself as one of the biggest name's in British sport.
Unfortunately, this has led to the young star facing extreme pressure to continue to perform at the top level despite her still being in the early stages of her career.
It has also led to some people obsessing over the Brit, with some taking their 'support' too far, stepping over the line of privacy and personal safety.
In 2022, a man was handed a five-year restraining order in court after walking 23 miles to Raducanu's London home.
Topics: Emma Raducanu, Tennis
Ben McCrum