Emma Raducanu Makes A Resilient Return

A Shadow on the Court: Raducanu Faces Down Stalking Trauma on Path to Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu, Britain's second-highest-ranked female tennis player, has admitted to feeling cautious in public spaces following a disturbing stalking incident. The event took place during the Dubai Tennis Championships at the start of the year, casting a shadow over her season. As she prepares for the grass-court swing, the victor of the 2021 US Open is navigating not just the physical demands of the tour, but the psychological aftermath of a deeply unsettling experience that has highlighted the vulnerabilities of high-profile athletes.

The 22-year-old is now looking forward, focused on her tennis and bolstered by a new sense of stability in her support team. However, her journey through the 2025 season reveals a complex picture of a young athlete grappling with fame, injury, and the relentless pressures of professional sport. The experience in Dubai serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that extend far beyond the tramlines of the court.

An Ordeal in Dubai

In a contest during the second stage in Dubai this past February, Raducanu faced Karolina Muchova under incredibly stressful circumstances. A man who had reportedly exhibited "fixated behaviour" took a courtside seat, causing the British player immediate and visible distress. The situation escalated quickly, forcing a pause in play. Raducanu sought refuge behind the umpire's chair, overcome with emotion and attempting to process the alarming situation.

The match, which had already been delayed by several hours due to rain, began late in the evening. Within the first few games, Raducanu was in tears. She later recounted that her weeping was so intense she was unable to track the ball and found it difficult to catch her breath. Her opponent, Muchova, showed concern, approaching the visibly shaken player during a changeover to check if she was able to continue. The first few games slipped away as Raducanu struggled to maintain her composure.

A Frightening Encounter

The man’s presence was not a one-off incident. He had reportedly approached Raducanu in public on multiple occasions before the match in Dubai. This pattern of unwanted attention culminated in his appearance at her match, a presence that was both intimidating and profoundly disruptive to her ability to compete. Security officials eventually escorted the individual from the stadium.

Following the incident, Dubai police issued the man with a restraining order, and the WTA, the governing body of women's tennis, banned him from attending any future tour events. The episode was not Raducanu's first encounter with such alarming behaviour. In 2022, a different man was given a restraining order lasting five years after stalking her at her family home in London, highlighting a recurring security issue for the young star.

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The Lingering Impact

Raducanu has since spoken about the psychological toll of the ordeal. She admitted the incident has made her feel cautious while in public. Her anxiety during the Dubai tournament was intensified by a sense of professional instability. At that point, she lacked a permanent coach, which she explained contributed to her feeling unsettled and anxious.

The experience underscores a broader and growing concern regarding the safety of female athletes. The intense public spotlight, often amplified by social media, can create vulnerabilities that go beyond the controlled environment of a sporting event. For Raducanu, the incident was a difficult reminder that the pressures of her career are not confined to her performance on the court.

Seeking Stability and Support

In the months following the Dubai incident, Raducanu has worked to build a more stable support system around her. She has stated that she now feels "good" and "pretty settled" off the court, crediting the "good people" in her circle. This newfound stability is crucial as she aims to brush off negativity and focus on her career.

The WTA has reaffirmed its commitment to player safety, stating that it works closely with tournaments on security protocols. Following the Dubai incident, security around Raducanu was visibly increased at subsequent tournaments like Indian Wells. These measures, while necessary, also point to the unfortunate reality that elite athletes, particularly women, must increasingly navigate their careers with heightened vigilance and protection.

The Coaching Conundrum

A significant part of Raducanu’s journey since her Grand Slam victory has been a well-documented series of changes in her coaching staff. After her triumph at the US Open in 2021 with Andrew Richardson, the partnership was not extended. This decision marked the beginning of a period of frequent transitions, with several coaches joining and leaving her team in a relatively short span.

This revolving door of coaches has included names like Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs. Each partnership, for various reasons, proved to be short-lived. Tursunov, for instance, cited "red flags" as his reason for ending their trial period. This constant change has made it difficult for Raducanu to build long-term tactical consistency and may have contributed to her feelings of unease.

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A New and Familiar Team

For the current grass-court season, Raducanu has assembled a team that blends new collaboration with trusted history. She is working alongside both Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey. Petchey, a respected coach and commentator, had previously worked with Raducanu and joined her team for a successful run at the Miami Open earlier in the year.

Nick Cavaday, a childhood coach of Raducanu's, has also returned to her camp. He had stepped back from full-time coaching earlier in the year for health reasons but is now back to support her through the Wimbledon campaign. Raducanu has expressed her trust in both men, highlighting the importance of having experienced figures she can depend upon for the future.

A Battle with Her Body

Physical setbacks have been a persistent theme in Raducanu's post-US Open career. Her body has struggled to cope with the intense demands of the full-time tour schedule, leading to a series of frustrating injuries. These issues have hampered her ability to build momentum and compete consistently at the highest level, affecting both her performance and her ranking.

In 2023, her injury problems culminated in a significant hiatus from the sport. She underwent minor surgical procedures on both of her wrists and one of her ankles, forcing her to withdraw from both the French Open and the Wimbledon championships. This extended period on the sidelines was a major blow, halting her progress and causing her ranking to fall outside the top 200.

The Road to Recovery

Raducanu returned to the tour at the start of 2024, embarking on the slow and arduous process of a comeback. The year was one of patience and perseverance, as she worked to regain match fitness and climb back up the rankings. There were promising signs, including quarter-final appearances and a semi-final run at the Nottingham Open, demonstrating that she remains a dangerous opponent.

Her progress has continued into 2025, though not without further challenges. She has been managing a recurring back problem, which has triggered recurring muscular spasms and interrupted her preparations for the grass season. Despite this, she is learning to manage the condition, focusing on what she can control and dealing with setbacks as they arise.

The Pressure of the Pinnacle

Winning the US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier catapulted Raducanu from relative obscurity to global superstardom overnight. This meteoric rise brought with it an intense level of scrutiny and pressure that few athletes ever experience. She has since spoken candidly about the difficulties of adapting to this new reality, acknowledging the "intense" nature of the attention.

Raducanu has reflected on how sheltered her life was before that victory and how she felt "burned" by some of the professional and personal experiences that followed. This has led her to become more guarded, carefully choosing who she allows into her inner circle. The constant public commentary, much of which she says is untrue, has been a significant challenge to navigate.

Finding a New Perspective

Despite the difficulties, Raducanu is developing strategies to cope with the pressures of fame. She has learned to view external criticism as a byproduct of success, suggesting that the time to worry is when people stop talking about you. This mature perspective shows a growing resilience in the face of the unique challenges she confronts as a high-profile athlete.

To find balance, Raducanu has also expressed a desire to re-engage with her academic interests, which were put on hold for her tennis career. She believes that stimulating her brain with studies will provide a necessary retreat from the all-consuming world of professional tennis. This focus on personal growth indicates a determination to forge a path that prioritises her overall wellbeing.

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Gearing Up for Grass

As the tour transitions to grass, Raducanu is focused on the upcoming challenges, chief among them the championships at Queen's Club and Wimbledon. Her preparation has been affected by her back issues, but she has recently been able to increase her training intensity on the surface. She is scheduled to play doubles with fellow Briton Katie Boulter at Queen's, a move designed to help her get a better feel for the courts.

Her latest Grand Slam showing occurred during the French Open, where she suffered a decisive second-round defeat to the formidable Iga Swiatek. Now, on a surface that has historically suited her game, Raducanu is looking to build confidence and put together a strong run in front of her home supporters. She has accepted a wild card to play in the Berlin Open as part of her Wimbledon preparations.

A Resilient Path Forward

Emma Raducanu's journey over the past few years has been anything but simple. She has contended with the immense weight of expectation, a series of debilitating injuries, and the frightening reality of personal security threats. The stalking episode that happened in Dubai was a profoundly troubling event that has understandably left her more cautious.

Yet, through it all, Raducanu displays a quiet determination. She is actively building a stable and trusted team around her. She is learning to manage both her physical ailments and the unique psychological pressures of her position. As she steps onto the grass courts for the British summer season, she does so not as the fairytale champion of 2021, but as a resilient young woman forging a career on her own terms.