Emma Raducanu thanks supporters after being brought to tears on court

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu was brought to tears during her match against Karolina Muchova in Dubai due to a man "exhibiting obsessive behavior." Following the incident, she expressed her gratitude to everyone who showed her support. The incident led to a disruption in the match and raised concerns about player safety, highlighting the need for increased security measures at sporting events.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) stated that the spectator was removed from the premises by security personnel during the Dubai Championships on Tuesday evening and has since been banned from the venue. The match was briefly interrupted after Raducanu spoke with the umpire, who promptly contacted the tournament organizers. The 22-year-old stood behind the umpire's chair while the spectator was escorted away, demonstrating the seriousness of the situation.

The WTA statement indicated that the man had approached Raducanu in a public area before appearing in the "front rows" of the audience. The WTA has taken action by banning the man from all WTA events and conducting a threat assessment to ensure the safety of its players. The WTA is actively collaborating with Raducanu and her team to ensure her well-being and provide the necessary support, emphasizing their commitment to player welfare.

Raducanu thanked everyone on Instagram on Wednesday for sending messages of support and praised her opponent. "Yesterday was a difficult experience and I’m feeling alright and proud of how I fought to come back after what happened at the beginning of the match," Raducanu wrote. "Thank you to Karolina for a great match and all the best to her for the rest of the tournament," showing her resilience despite the unsettling circumstances.

After the match resumed, Raducanu rallied from 0-4 down to force a tie-break but ultimately lost to Muchova 7-6(6) 6-4. Muchova advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating American player McCartney Kessler 6-3 1-6 7-6(5) on Wednesday and remains in contention, showcasing her strong performance in the tournament.