Emma Raducanu has said she will “be okay” after being approached by a man displaying “fixated behaviour”.
The British tennis star was later visibly upset during a game at the Dubai Tennis Championships after the man was among the crowds in the first few rows.
On Instagram on Wednesday, she wrote: “Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
“Thank you to Karolina [Muchova] for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
Along with her message she posted an image of the Jane Austen novel Emma and a cup of coffee.
The 22-year-old was in tears as she went to the umpire’s chair after the second game of her rain-delayed second-round match on Tuesday.
The man was subsequently removed from the tennis court by security.
Raducanu went on to lose 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to 14th seed Karolina Muchova.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) statement said: “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.”
Emma Raduanu previously had a stalker and was ‘constantly looking over her shoulder’. Pic: AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
The WTA added it was “actively working” with Raducanu to ensure her well-being and will provide any “necessary support”.
In 2022, a 35-year-old man was handed a five-year restraining order – after a court heard Raducanu was “constantly looking over her shoulder” and no longer felt “safe in her own home”.
Amrit Magar had walked 23 miles to Emma’s home and had stolen her father’s shoe as a souvenir.
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Bromley Magistrates’ Court heard how Magar went to Raducanu’s home on three separate occasions, loitered outside, left unwanted gifts and cards, and stole property from their porch.
The court also heard from Raducanu through a victim impact statement read by prosecutors – which said that her parents were “reluctant” to let her go out on her own.
The restraining order, handed to Magar by District Judge Sushil Kumar, bans him from contacting Raducanu and her parents.