Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu has mentioned she “could not see the ball by tears” and will “barely breathe” after being focused by a stalker throughout a match on the Dubai Tennis Championships final month.
Raducanu seemed distressed through the opening set of her second-round match in opposition to Karolina Muchova and stood behind the umpire’s chair as safety personnel led the person out.
The 22-year-old then resumed the match and misplaced 7-6 (6), 6-4.
“I used to be clearly very distraught,” Raducanu informed reporters in Indian Wells, California, the place she is going to return for the primary time for the reason that ordeal with enhanced safety.
“I noticed him within the first sport of the match and I used to be like, ‘I do not know the way I’ll end.’
“I actually could not see the ball by tears. I might barely breathe. I used to be like, ‘I want to simply take a breather.'”
Raducanu mentioned she had beforehand been approached twice off the courtroom in Dubai by the person, who was additionally current throughout her matches in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Doha in previous weeks.
She determined to drop the costs in opposition to the person who had been detained by Dubai Police. The person has since been banned from all WTA tournaments.
“It was a really emotional time,” added Raducanu, who took per week off earlier than returning to the tour.
“After the match I did break down in tears, however not essentially as a result of I misplaced. There was simply a lot emotion in the previous couple of weeks of the occasions taking place, and I simply wanted that week off to take a breather and are available right here.
“I really feel quite a bit higher.”
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion who has slipped to No. 55 on the planet rankings attributable to type and health points, will play Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima within the first spherical at Indian Wells with a win making certain a match in opposition to third-seeded Coco Gauff.