EMMA RADUCANU has spoken publicly for the first time since her stalker hell.
Raducanu broke down in tears and hid behind the umpire’s chair in distressing scenes during her second-round match in Dubai on February 18.
The Brit, 22, spotted a man in the crowd who it transpired had followed her in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Doha before handing her a letter with personal details and taking a photograph at a cafe on the eve of the match.
He was accused of “exhibiting fixated behaviour” while coach Roman Kelecic alleged the “admirer” got “physically close to her” and “started having contact in the form of selfies and hugging”.
Raducanu flew back to the UK after the horrific ordeal before jetting out to California for the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, where she will have extra security measures in place.
World No55 – who could play Coco Gauff in round two – was spotted smiling on court as she practised with ex-pro Tommy Haas while she continues her search for a new permanent coach.
And ahead of her first-round match against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, she faced the media.
Raducanu said: “[That’s] why I carried on playing that match.
“I was obviously very distraught, like I saw him first game of the match, and I was like, I don’t know how I’m going to finish.
“I literally couldn’t see the ball through the tears. I could barely breathe, like I was playing Karolina who’s, like, top 17 in the world or something. I can’t see the ball.”
Watched over by two burly security guards who now follow her everywhere here, she looked remarkably relaxed and at ease so soon after the Dubai incident.
She added: “This is my favourite tournament. If it was another tournament, I’m honestly not sure [I’d be playing], but I’m very happy I made that decision.
“Since being here I have definitely come into myself a lot more and feeling happier, feeling more like myself again.”
Her life has changed: now she is always on high alert and watching for anything untoward around her.
She said: “I’m always with someone who could raise the alarm or could help or in a scenario,
“I’m always very aware and very alert and sensitive and don’t really go anywhere on my own. I’m pretty much chaperoned everywhere.”
Terrified tennis star Raducanu shouted “here he is” towards her team when she saw the stalker early on in the match against Karolina Muchova.
He was removed by security from the stands at the tournament and ejected from the grounds before being arrested and signing a restraining order.
Raducanu later dropped charges against the individual, who has now been banned from all WTA events.
The 2021 US Open champion took to social media following the ordeal where she thanked fans and opponent Muchova for their support during and after the 7-6 6-4 defeat.
She wrote: “Thank you for the messages of support.
“Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
“Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
Back in February 2022, a London court issued a five-year restraining order against a man who stalked Raducanu, including making several visits to her home.
Read the full article here
