Emma Raducanu says she is “proud” of playing on after being targeted by a “fixated” man during her defeat to Karolina Muchova in Dubai on Tuesday.
Tennis authorities say the individual was subsequently ejected and has now been banned from all future events, pending a threat assessment.
The i Paper understands the man approached Raducanu, 22, outside the tournament perimeter on Monday and was recognised as someone she had seen a number of times previously.
Tournament officials are understood to have been notified of the incident at midday on Tuesday and efforts were made to identify him on the grounds, but in vain.
Raducanu is also understood to have been given a beefed-up security detail to escort her to and from Court 2, and dedicated bodyguards remained courtside throughout the match.
However, when the man in question appeared in the stands, the 2021 US Open champion was visibly upset, crying and struggling to control her breathing after pointing him out to the umpire after just two games.
“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events,” the WTA said.
“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.”
The WTA already works in this area with Theseus Risk Management, a company who specialise in dealing with fixated threats, and the tour also offers dedicated mental health support to players at tournaments and between events.
Dubai tournament organisers added: “We support the WTA’s decision to ban the individual in question from all WTA events, and share the Tour’s longstanding commitment to player welfare, safety and wellbeing.”
Raducanu was visibly terrified by the incident, hiding behind the umpire’s chair as she sobbed and struggled to control her breathing. Her opponent Muchova came over to console her, and Raducanu needed a moment to sit down and wipe the tears away before continuing.
A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association said: “This incident once again highlights issues around safety that all players, but female players in particular, can face.
“We have support available for British players and have been in contact with Emma and her team following the events in Dubai.
“We have extensive security arrangements at our events in Britain and keep these under constant review.”
It is not the first time that the British No 2 has had to deal with a persistent stalker in her career.
Amrit Magar, 35, turned up at her house in south London on three occasions, leaving unwanted gifts and cards, and stealing “souvenir” items from the porch of Raducanu’s family home.
She said the series of incidents made her feel unsafe in her own home and “very apprehensive if I go out”.
Magar was given a five-year restraining order and an 18-month community order by Bromley Magistrates Court in February 2022.
The match in Dubai restarted as Raducanu tried to recover her composure, using changeovers to put a towel over her head and work on her breathing.
She lost the first four games of the match but then recovered to force a first-set tie-break.
And she had a point to take the opening set, but No 14 seed Muchova found her best tennis in the key moments, recovering from 5-2 down in the breaker to take the set.
The Czech broke early in the second before sealing a close encounter 7-6, 6-4 after two hours and seven minutes at midnight in Dubai, the match having been delayed several hours by rain.
Raducanu is now back in the UK, and is expected to start preparing for Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, both in March.
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