Iga Swiatek has spoken out regarding the unsettling incident that occurred with Emma Raducanu at the Dubai Championships, shedding light on her own past experience with a fan encounter that she described as “scary.” The incident in question unfolded during Raducanu’s 6-7(6), 4-6 loss to Karolina Muchova in the second round of the WTA 1000 event on Tuesday.
After dropping the second game of the match, Raducanu appeared visibly shaken. She spoke briefly with the umpire before retreating behind the official’s chair, where she was seen crying. Muchova, showing concern for her opponent, offered support, while the umpire communicated with security personnel, using a walkie-talkie to discuss the matter with both players before play resumed.
Following the match, the WTA revealed that the same man who approached Raducanu in a public space on Monday was present during the match, sitting in the first few rows. He was promptly escorted out of the venue, and the WTA issued a statement saying: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour. 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.”
The WTA emphasized its commitment to player safety, saying, “Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Swiatek, who triumphed over Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 6-0 to reach the quarter-finals in Dubai, took the opportunity to address the situation during her press conference. Reflecting on her own experience, the world No. 2 recounted a similar frightening encounter that she was able to avoid. “We were able to avoid one, like, incident that might have been scary back in the day when I was hosting my own event in Poland,” Swiatek recalled.
She continued, “Yeah, there are fans that are kind of, I don’t know, everywhere. But I’m pretty sure that they don’t have any bad intentions. Obviously, you know, we are public persons, so we should always keep our eyes open and be ready to react if we feel uncomfortable. I’m sure it must have been tough for Emma.”
Swiatek also expressed her appreciation for the WTA’s swift action in addressing the situation. “I know the WTA banned this person from going on-site anywhere on any tournament. So I guess the reaction was pretty solid. I like that because it’s WTA’s kind of responsibility to keep us safe, for that environment to be safe for us. I guess with their help it’s fine. But, yeah, it’s hard probably to avoid these situations before.”
As a high-profile athlete, Swiatek is acutely aware of the potential risks associated with her public life, particularly when it comes to social media. The five-time Grand Slam champion revealed that she is careful with the timing of her posts to avoid revealing her whereabouts prematurely. “I try for my Instagram feed to be up to date and everything,” she explained. “But yeah, sometimes we are posting one day after I left someplace or just after, I don’t know, the event and everything.”
Swiatek also shared that her choice of accommodations is influenced by her desire for safety. “On the other hand, it’s kind of natural anyway because then you have photos to post. I guess it’s all about the timing and also if I stay in a nice hotel and I know that I’m going to be there for a longer time, it’s also nice for this hotel to be ready to accommodate us in a way that it’s safe, getting some, I don’t know, different entrance, yeah.”
Her comments highlight the importance of being vigilant and taking precautions in an environment where public figures are frequently exposed. “But it all depends on the situation, I guess. Usually, people are helpful with that because they understand that I’m in a situation where I’m kind of exposed.”