Emma Raducanu has stated that the recent stalking incident she experienced "could have been handled better," but she believes lessons have been learned. The 22-year-old British player spoke publicly for the first time to BBC Sport, two weeks after the incident, saying she had experienced "very emotional weeks" during which she was followed by the same man to four tournaments.
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03-06, 2025During her second-round match in Dubai, Raducanu appeared visibly affected after seeing the man in the stands. The man was subsequently removed, and police issued him a restraining order.
"I think since that incident, I've definitely had more attention and security has been stepped up," Raducanu said before returning to the court at Indian Wells. "I think all we can do is review what happened and react in a better, more positive way, rather than looking back and blaming the situation." She added, "It could have been handled better, but it is being handled better now, and that's important for me."
The man reportedly approached Raducanu near the players' hotel in Dubai the day before her second-round match against Karolina Muchova. He handed her a letter and took her photo, which made Raducanu feel uneasy as she had already noticed the man's presence at tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha in previous weeks. Although she reported the matter to members of her team, the information was not passed on to the WTA or tournament organizers until the following day, leaving security personnel with only a few hours to prepare.
"I think it was a very emotional few weeks because it had been going on for a few weeks," Raducanu said. "It was very tiring. I went back to England and had a week off and then decided to come here."
Raducanu rose to fame after winning the US Open in 2021 at the age of 18. She told the BBC that she is unlikely to invest in private security at tournaments but added that she is taking more precautions. "I'm always very vigilant now, and I don't go anywhere alone anymore," she added. "I'm always with someone, and I'm always being watched."
After deciding to travel to Indian Wells – one of the largest tournaments outside of the four Grand Slams – Raducanu was surprised to find herself feeling happier upon arriving in California. "Since coming here, being in this environment at one of my favorite tournaments, I feel a lot better," she said. "The appeal of Indian Wells was a big reason for me to come here. I wasn't sure if I was going to come and compete this quickly. I just wanted to make sure I was ready, but since coming here, I've been surprised at how happy I am to be here. It's probably one of my favorite places on the calendar, and I'm ready to go."
Raducanu will face Japan's Moyuka Uchijima in the first round on Thursday, with the winner facing American third seed Coco Gauff in the second round.
