Emma Raducanu secures restraining order against 'fixated stalker'
She was approached and given a letter by the man at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre on Monday. The same man was later ejected from the stands during Raducanu's match on Tuesday.
Published: 15:14 GMT, 20 February 2025 | Updated: 16:11 GMT, 20 February 2025
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This is the dramatic moment Emma Raducanu stops her match in Dubai after spotting the 'fixated' man in the stands who left her in tears and hiding on the court.
Today, Dubai Police announced they had detained a 'tourist' who 'approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behaviour that caused her distress'.
The man in question has signed an effective restraining order to keep distance from her.
And new footage shot from the stands shows Raducanu spotting the man watching her match on Tuesday. Later, a spectator appears to be escorted out by security.
Raducanu was approached and given a letter by a man at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre on Monday.
The same man was later ejected from the stands during her second round match on Tuesday.
This is the moment that Emma Raducanu appeared to spot her 'stalker' during a match in Dubai
Raducanu then walked towards the crowd and appeared to exchange words with someone
Raducanu broke down in tears towards the start of the match, approached umpire Miriam Bley and then hid behind the official's chair.
A WTA statement later revealed that Raducanu had spotted someone who had 'exhibited fixated behaviour' on Monday.
She was sufficiently distressed by that incident to report it to on-site security and WTA staff.
The man was detained by police and 'signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance' from her.
Dubai authorities issued an update on Thursday. A statement read: '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.'
New footage from Tuesday's match also emerged on Thursday.
It appeared to show the moment Raducanu spotted a man in the crowd.
Raducanu had just won a point to make it 15-15 in the second game of the match. She was celebrating with a clenched fist when she seemed to identify someone sat in the stand behind her.
She then walked towards them, shaking her head, before some unintelligible words were exchanged.
Shortly after, a male spectator dressed in a khaki tee-shirt and a baseball cap appeared to be escorted from his seat by a member of security staff.
However, this did not appear to be the same man who Raducanu had been gesturing and speaking towards moments earlier.
The match was briefly paused after Raducanu had lost the first two games against Karolina Muchova.
Once it resumed, the Brit went on to lose the match 7-6 6-4.
Emma Raducanu