Emma Raducanu Receives Restraining Order Against Spectator in Dubai Tennis Match
Image credits: Robert Prange/Getty Images
The incident occurred during Raducanu's match against Karolina Muchová at the WTA 1,000 Dubai Tennis Championships, where a male spectator approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behavior that caused her distress. The spectator was subsequently ejected from the premises and banned from future tournaments. Raducanu, who was visibly upset during the match, later dropped the charges, but the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) issued a statement saying that the spectator had approached Raducanu earlier in the tournament, and that player safety is their top priority. The WTA is actively working with Raducanu and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) also added that this incident highlights issues around safety that all players, but female players in particular, can face. The LTA has support available for British players and has been in contact with Raducanu and her team following the events in Dubai.
Raducanu's experience is not an isolated incident, as many female tennis players have faced similar situations. For example, Katie Boulter shared her experiences of being followed home and receiving violent online threats, while Danielle Collins has been stalked multiple times, both online and in person. Sloane Stephens has also spoken about receiving crazy messages and death threats, and how it has become normalized for female athletes to receive such abuse. The harassment and abuse that female tennis players face is a serious concern, and it is not just limited to extreme cases, but also includes daily scrutiny and abuse on social media.
The problem of harassment and abuse in women's tennis is complex and multifaceted. It is not just a matter of individual incidents, but also a reflection of the broader cultural and societal attitudes towards women and girls. The global sporting industry has a long way to go in eradicating the intrinsic sexism that has fueled its historic culture. Many sporting organizations are now employing AI systems to monitor and filter out online abuse towards athletes during tournaments, but this does not deal with the root cause of the problem. The UN report on violence against women and girls in sport found that the sports ecosystem presents many barriers to tackling the issue, including a lack of accountability, transparency, and a defensive mindset.
Some of the match scores and player statistics from the Dubai Tennis Championships include:
- Emma Raducanu lost to Karolina Muchová 7-6(6), 6-4
- Raducanu won the US Open in 2021
- Katie Boulter has been followed home and received violent online threats
- Danielle Collins has been stalked multiple times, both online and in person
- Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships: February 17-23, 2025
- WTA 1,000 ranking: Emma Raducanu is currently ranked 10th in the world
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