Swiatek Backs WTA's Action After Raducanu's Distressing Fan Encounter

Posted : 20 February 2025

Iga Swiatek has commended the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for its swift action after a distressing incident involving Emma Raducanu in Dubai. Raducanu broke down in tears during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova when she spotted a fan exhibiting "fixated behavior."

The match was briefly halted as she informed the umpire, prompting tournament organizers to intervene. The WTA later revealed that the same man had approached Raducanu earlier in the week in a public area. As a result, he has been banned from all WTA events pending further assessment.

Swiatek, the current world No. 2, supported the tour’s response, emphasizing the importance of player safety. While acknowledging that such incidents are difficult to prevent entirely, she expressed confidence in the measures taken. "I know the WTA banned this person from going on-site anywhere on any tournament. So I guess the reaction was pretty solid," she said.

The five-time Grand Slam champion also shared her own experience, recalling a close call with a fan at an event in Poland. She stressed the need for players to remain vigilant and report any potential threats as early as possible.

The issue of player harassment extends beyond in-person encounters, with young Russian star Mirra Andreeva shedding light on the abuse players receive online. The 17-year-old admitted she regularly gets hateful messages after losses, a problem that has long plagued professional tennis.

Recalling one particularly disturbing threat from when she was just 14, Andreeva revealed that a message warned her to "look around" because someone planned to harm her. She noted that, despite having security at tournaments, the online abuse remains a persistent and unresolved issue for players.

The problem of female tennis players facing harassment is not new, with past greats such as Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, and Martina Hingis all dealing with stalkers. The most chilling incident in tennis history occurred in 1993 when Monica Seles was stabbed on court by a fan.

More recently, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova suffered a violent attack in her home in 2016. With such dangers still looming, Swiatek and others have emphasized the need for caution, particularly in public spaces and on social media, where players can be tracked by obsessive fans.

Swiatek Backs WTA's Action After Raducanu's Distressing Fan Encounter

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