Emma Radacanu has spoken out about the frightening encounter she experienced last month with a stalker. Her case highlights the concerns on women’s safety, especially to those who are in the spotlight.
The issue of women’s safety has become increasingly alarming, with the recent case of British tennis star Emma Raducanu as an example.
The 22-year-old athlete has spoken out about the terrifying ordeal of being stalked last month at the Dubai Tennis Championships, revealing shocking new details. After receiving a personal letter and being photographed by her stalker, the former US Open champion was horrified to spot him in the crowd, displaying ‘fixated’ behaviour during her match against Karolina Muchova. This led to her breaking down in tears and hiding behind the umpire’s chair until security removed him from the venue.
The traumatic incident left Raducanu shaken, after she had previously been forced to deal a man visiting her house three times in the aftermath of her US Open win, aged 18. Speaking for the first time since the Dubai Tennis Championships incident, Raducanu said she “couldn’t see the ball through tears.”
She told BBC Sport: “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.’” Raducanu later expressed concerns about her safety, stating that the incident “could have been dealt with better.”
In a statement, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed the events, stating: “Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.”
“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment. Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events,” the statement continued. “The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”
As a direct result of the incident, Raducanu has also increased her security team while travelling ahead of her matches at Indian Wells. While she’s been widely supported by fans during this time, she’s also faced criticism online from a select few urging her to “suck it up.”
This distressing incident and the commentary that came after is proof of the damning reality of being a woman in the spotlight – a public figure – who is subject to physical dangers but also extreme scrutiny, an increased risk of online harassment and a glaringly obvious double standard around appearance, reactions, emotions and more. Women are constantly placed under the microscope, open to unwavering public scrutiny at any moment.
A similar situation recently unfolded with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, who spoke out against internet trolls and malicious articles targeting her appearance. In a world where the internet enables people to freely criticise celebrities under the assumption that “they shouldn’t have the right to privacy,” more and more female public figures are speaking out, demanding better protection and respect.
These kinds of disturbing incidents are ones that no woman should ever have to experience. Even those who aren’t in the public eye still live with the unsettling reality of having to constantly live in survival mode.
While efforts to improve women’s safety have increased, there is still a long way to go. A larger conversation is needed – one that not only acknowledges the on-and-offline dangers women face but also works toward tangible solutions that prioritise their well-being and, most importantly, their safety.
