Roman Kelecic, Emma Raducanu’s former coach, has spoken out about the chilling behavior of the man who stalked the young British tennis star. His revelations come after an unsettling incident during Raducanu’s match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The second-round clash, which Raducanu lost 6-7(6), 4-6, was marred by a deeply concerning event that left the 20-year-old visibly shaken.
After falling behind early in the first set, Raducanu seemed increasingly distressed, prompting her to approach the umpire. In an emotional moment, she hid behind the official’s chair, visibly upset and in tears. Muchova, demonstrating sportsmanship, offered consolation to Raducanu as the umpire took action, speaking with both players and security before play resumed. During this break, a man was removed from the stadium, with the WTA later confirming that he had been the one to approach Raducanu in a public area the previous day.
A statement from the WTA clarified the situation, explaining that the man had exhibited obsessive behavior toward Raducanu. “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior,” the statement read. “This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
It was later revealed that the man, a tourist visiting Dubai, had been issued a restraining order in exchange for the charges against him being dropped.
Kelecic, who had been working with Raducanu at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai tournaments, shared more details in an interview with Croatian outlet Net. He disclosed that the man had followed Raducanu to previous events, including those in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. “At first, we thought he was just a fan, an admirer, as Emma is a very popular tennis star with a massive following,” Kelecic explained. “But things started to escalate when he physically got too close—asking for selfies, hugging her, and so on.”
What was even more unsettling, according to Kelecic, was the man’s calculated approach to getting closer to Raducanu. “He had a strategy that was terrifying,” the coach continued. “He was assessing the situation and waiting for the right moment to approach her. That moment came when none of us—her coach, fitness trainer, or security guard—were around.” Kelecic emphasized the chilling level of planning involved, saying the stalker had thought through his actions carefully and executed his plan with precision.
The situation became even more alarming when the stalker’s presence was noticed hours before Raducanu’s match. “We had a photo of him, and the entire security team was made aware of who he was. Three or four hours before the match, we were already on high alert,” Kelecic recalled. “During the first game, Emma lost the first points, and then we saw her signal to us. At that moment, we had no idea what was going on. But after she lost the game, she ran to us, crying and shouting, ‘Here he is, here he is, here he is.'”
The situation was a stark reminder of the dangers that public figures, including athletes like Raducanu, sometimes face from obsessive individuals. Thankfully, the swift response from Raducanu’s team and tournament security ensured her safety, though the unsettling incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for heightened security around high-profile players.