Former US Open Champion Emma Radukanu said he suffered from physical reactions at the Dubai Championship last month after facing a man “fixed” by a young tennis star, and eventually he was detained by local law enforcement.
Radkanu, 22, recalled the intense situation at the Indian Wells at the BNP Paribas Open.
Emma Radukanu will celebrate during a match against Amanda Anishimova at the Australian Open held at Melbourne Park on January 16th, 2025. (Mike Frey-Imagn image)
“I was clearly very distraught,” Radkanu said.
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“I saw him in the first game of the match and 'I don't know how it's going to end', I literally couldn't shed tears.
In a statement at the time, the WTA explained that “the man who exhibited elaborate behavior” had approached Radkanu in a public space. The next day, the same man was found in her match in the first few lines.
According to the Dubai government's media office, the man “lead a note to her” and took a photo of her at one of those encounters.
Emma Ladukanu will make a forehand return to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 18th, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, file)
US Open Champion Emmaradukanu breaks silence with “elaborate” fans and “difficult experiences” at the Dubai Championship
“Following Radukanu's complaints, Dubai police approached her, left her notes, took photos and detained tourists engaged in the actions that caused her pain at the Dubai Tax-Free Tennis Championship,” the statement read.
According to Reuters, the man approached her twice from a court in Dubai, previously found in tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Doha in the previous weeks.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was later detained, but Radukanu chose to stop accusing him.
Emmaladukanu is in a match against Amanda Anishimova at the Australian Open on January 16th, 2025. (Mike Frey-Imagn image)
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“It was a very emotional time,” she added. “After the match, I shed tears, but not necessarily because I lost.”
This man was banned as “threat ratings pending” by the WTA from all future tournaments.
Radkanu received a five-year restraint order against a London man in 2022 after being found guilty of stalking her. The man appeared at her house several times, leaving behind unnecessary gifts. She was 19 years old at the time.
Raducana will face Japan's China in the first tournament since Thursday's incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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