DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Emma Raducanu’s journey in the Dubai Championships came to a disappointing end as she faced defeat against Karolina Muchova. The match was marked by an emotional first set during which a spectator was removed from the venue, causing a moment of distress for Raducanu.
In a gripping moment that took place on Tuesday, the 2021 U.S. Open champion appeared visibly upset, heading to the umpire’s chair after the second game, leading to a brief suspension of play on Court 2. Following a discussion with the umpire, who sought the intervention of tournament officials, Raducanu found herself standing in a confined area between the referee’s chair and the courtside screen. Muchova empathetically walked over to comfort her during this difficult time.
After some moments of contemplation, Raducanu took a towel, wiped away her tears, acknowledged her emotions, and rejoined the play. Although she managed to stage a comeback from a 4-0 deficit to set up a tiebreak, she ultimately succumbed to Muchova with a scoreline of 7-6 (6), 6-4.
The tournament organizers later released a statement revealing that Raducanu had been approached the previous day by a man displaying obsessive behavior. This same individual was reportedly spotted near the front rows during Raducanu’s match on Tuesday, leading to his prompt removal from the venue. The man now faces a ban from all WTA events while further risk assessments are conducted.
The WTA has affirmed their commitment to Raducanu’s safety and well-being, collaborating closely with her team to provide necessary support. This incident is particularly troubling considering a past situation where a man stalked Raducanu during her teenage years, ultimately resulting in an 18-month community service sentence and a five-year restraining order following a court appearance in 2022.
The offender, Amrit Magar, a former delivery driver from London, had stalked Raducanu, loitering outside her home, leaving unwanted gifts, and even stealing her belongings across three different occasions.
Having captured global attention by winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier in 2021, Raducanu has faced challenges since, including injuries that have hindered her performance, as she has not progressed beyond the third round in any major tournament since then.
In lighter news from the tournament, Muchova, seeded 14th, progressed to face McCartney Kessler, who pulled off a surprising upset against 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, with a score of 6-4, 7-5. Gauff had not lost to anyone ranked outside the top 50 since being defeated by Sofia Kenin (who was ranked 128th) at Wimbledon in 2023.
Earlier matches saw second-seeded Iga Swiatek dominate against Victoria Azarenka, winning 6-0, 6-2, and setting up a quarterfinal clash against Dayana Yastremska. Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Veronia Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4, and defending champion Jasmine Paolini secured a win against Eva Lys with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Other players, including Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Paula Badosa, also moved forward in the tournament.
