Emma Raducanu experienced distress during a match due to inappropriate behavior from a male spectator, forcing her to pause in tears. The incident drew attention to security concerns for female athletes and led to immediate action as the spectator was ejected. Despite a tough start, Raducanu managed to compete fiercely, ultimately losing to Karolina Muchova. Both the Women's Tennis Association and the Lawn Tennis Association assured Raducanu of their support and commitment to providing a safe environment for players, particularly as she prepares for upcoming tournaments.
Thank you for the messages of support, Raducanu said on Instagram. Difficult experience yesterday but I'll be OK and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
The man who had earlier exhibited fixated behaviour towards Raducanu, in the words of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), will be banned from all future WTA events, pending a threat assessment.
The WTA said it was actively working with Emma and her team to provide security to the former US Open champion after the incident and said it was committed to maintaining a safe environment for all players.
The LTA said in a statement that it had been in contact with Raducanu and promised extensive security arrangements for upcoming events.
Collection
[
|
...
]