Emma Raducanu reveals she 'couldn't see the ball through tears' amid stalker scare in Dubai

Emma Raducanu disclosed on Tuesday that she "couldn't see the ball through the tears" after experiencing harassment from a stalker during the Dubai WTA 1000 tournament last month.

The British tennis player was deeply affected when a man, later identified as exhibiting "fixated behavior," occupied a courtside seat during her match against Karolina Muchova.

Security personnel promptly removed the individual, who was subsequently issued a restraining order and prohibited from attending any WTA Tour events.

At 22 years old, Raducanu, the former US Open champion, is set to compete in her first tournament since the distressing events in Dubai at this week's event in California.

In remarks to the media on Tuesday, Raducanu expressed her resolve to not allow this incident to hinder her professional journey.

"There's a part of you that thinks, 'I'm not gonna let a middle-aged creep stop me doing what I love to do,'" Raducanu told The Athletic.

"I'm here because I feel a lot better now. A lot happened obviously after Dubai, so I just needed to kind of take my time after," she said.

"I think the allure of Indian Wells being my favorite tournament, I just couldn't really step away from it."

Recounting the details of her Dubai ordeal, where she briefly took refuge behind the umpire's chair after alerting officials to the man's presence, Raducanu said she had been "obviously very distraught."

"I saw him first game of the match, and I was like: 'I don't know how I'm going to finish'," Raducanu told reporters.

"I literally couldn't see the ball through the tears, I could barely breathe. I was playing Karolina, who's like top 17 in the world or something, and I can't see the ball.

The first four games of the match "kind of ran away from me because I was not on the court, to be honest. I'm not really sure how I regrouped," she said.

"It was a very emotional time and after the match I did completely break down in tears."

Tournament organizers are exercising caution regarding Raducanu's participation at Indian Wells this week, implementing security measures to ensure her safety while she is present at the event.

Raducanu, who faced a stalking incident at her family residence in 2022, has expressed that such experiences have heightened her sense of vigilance.

"The security is very important," Raducanu said. "Even if the player hotels are public information, that's not necessarily the most helpful and anyone can walk in.

"That's obviously a weak spot, but I do my best. I'm always, and now even more so, very aware and very alert and sensitive and I don't really go anywhere on my own."