Where should the boundary between a fan and an icon be drawn? It’s a long-debated question that has resurfaced time and again. British tennis star Emma Raducanu recently opened up about a traumatising stalking incident, shedding light on this unsettling issue. The ordeal left her in tears during her Dubai Tennis Championships match against Czechia's Karolina Muchova last month.

She now takes extra security precautions and is “pretty much chaperoned everywhere.”

Reflecting on the emotional toll of the incident, Raducanu shared how it began with the stalker approaching her at a coffee shop in Dubai. The situation escalated when she spotted the same individual in the front row during her match, exhibiting what the WTA later described as “fixated behavior.” Overwhelmed and shaken, she instinctively hid behind the umpire’s chair.

Despite the distressing experience, the 21-year-old is trying to focus on her comeback, starting with Thursday’s first-round clash against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima at Indian Wells.

“It’s a relief to feel protected, to feel safe,” Raducanu told Tennis365, acknowledging the efforts of her security detail, led by Mike. “He does an amazing job staying in the shadows—always present but never intrusive.”

“When I’m away from the courts, I don’t have private security right now, but I’m always with someone who could raise the alarm or could help in a scenario. Security is very important.”. 

However, the British star pointed out ongoing security concerns, particularly regarding the player hotel, which remains public information. “Anyone can walk in, and that’s a weak spot. I do my best to stay vigilant,” she added.

Despite her straight-sets defeat to Muchova in the Round of 32, Raducanu took pride in how she handled the difficult situation. “I was completely distraught. I saw him in the first game and thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish this match.’ I could barely breathe, let alone see the ball through tears,” she recalled.

Following the incident, the WTA confirmed that the man in question was ejected from the tournament, while Dubai authorities issued a restraining order, banning him from future events.

Now, as she prepares for Indian Wells, Raducanu hopes to put the ordeal behind her and focus on reclaiming her form on the court.