Emma Raducanu has dropped charges against a man who exhibited “fixated behaviour” towards her and later attended one of her matches.
The Brit became distressed during her second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday. It later emerged that a man who approached her a day earlier was seated in the first few rows. The WTA confirmed he was ejected from the match.
Dubai authorities have now shared the details of Raducanu’s encounter with the individual and confirmed that she dropped charges. The man also “signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her”.
Raducanu started crying early in her second-round match in Dubai and approached the umpire. The WTA later confirmed that she had become anxious after a man who previously “exhibited fixated behaviour” with Raducanu was spotted in the stands.
“On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour,” the women’s tour said in a statement.
“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.”
Raducanu continued playing and went on to lose the match. She has since returned home and is doing ok. Authorities in Dubai have now confirmed that she dropped charges against the individual in question.
They also said the man handed Raducanu a note and took a photo of her during their encounter on Monday. Raducanu is understood to have seen the man a number of times before.
It was previously reported that the individual approached the British No. 2 in her hotel.
In a statement, the Government of Dubai Media Office said: “Dubai authorities have taken swift action to address an incident involving British tennis star Emma Raducanu, in accordance with local legal protocols.
“Following Raducanu’s complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behaviour that caused her distress during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“While Raducanu later chose to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments.
“Dubai remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the emirate.”
Raducanu addressed the scary incident in an Instagram story on Wednesday and thanked her opponent, Karolina Muchova, for understanding.
“Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday (Tuesday) but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match,” she wrote.
“Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
