Emma Raducanu has said she “couldn’t see the ball through tears” after she spotted a stalker in the crowd at the Dubai Open last month.
The 22-year-old said she could “barely breathe” after receiving repeated unwanted attention from a man displaying “fixated behaviour” among the crowds.
The British star was left in tears as she went up to the umpire’s chair after the second game of her second-round match.
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“I was obviously very distraught,” she told reporters.
“I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, I don’t know how I’m going to finish. I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe.
“I was like, I need to just take a breather here.”
The man was removed from the tennis court by security, but Raducanu went on to lose the second round clash 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to 14th seed Karolina Muchova.
A day earlier the man had reportedly handed the star a letter.
She later opted not to press charges, but the individual was given a restraining order. He was also banned from future tournaments.
Raducanu said she had previously been approached twice by the man off-court.
“It was a very emotional time,” Raducanu said.
“After the match I did break down in tears, but not necessarily because I lost.
“There was just so much emotion in the last few weeks of the events happening, and I just needed that week off to take a breather and come here. I feel a lot better.”
The former US Open champion was speaking before the start of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells – where she will play for the first time since her ordeal.
She told Sky Sports: “I’m very happy to be in Indian Wells. It’s my favourite tournament outside of the Slams… and I think being here I feel a lot better.
“I wasn’t necessarily sure if I was going to come and compete so soon after what happened in Dubai but I’m glad I made the decision to come here. I love being here and I’m happy on the court.”
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It is not the first time Raducanu has been targeted by a stalker. An obsessive fan was given a restraining order in 2022 after coming to her house three times.
Raducanu will face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, ranked three places above her, in the first round in California. The winner will face third seed Coco Gauff.
