The US Open 2025 has been a stage for both triumph and turbulence for British tennis star Emma Raducanu. As the 22-year-old former champion navigates her return to Flushing Meadows, where she made history in 2021 as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, a disturbing incident involving a fan has cast a shadow over her campaign. During her first-round match, Raducanu was visibly shaken by the presence of a man in the stands, later identified as someone who had previously exhibited “fixated behaviour” toward her. Despite the emotional toll, Raducanu’s response—both on and off the court—has showcased her resilience and determination to reclaim her place among tennis’s elite.
### A Troubling Encounter
The incident occurred during Raducanu’s opening-round victory against Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara on Sunday, August 24, at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Just moments into the match, Raducanu noticed a familiar figure in the crowd—a man who had previously approached her at her hotel and during tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai earlier this year. In Dubai, the same individual had left her a letter and attempted physical contact, leaving her so distressed that she broke down in tears during a match against Karolina Muchova. “I saw him in the first game of the match, and I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish,’” Raducanu later recounted, describing how she “literally couldn’t see the ball through tears” and “could barely breathe” in Dubai. The man’s presence in New York reignited those fears, prompting Raducanu to alert security. The individual was swiftly removed from the stadium and banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment, a decision that underscored the sport’s commitment to player safety.
### A History of Stalker Trauma
This wasn’t Raducanu’s first encounter with obsessive fans. In 2022, a man named Amrit Magar was convicted of stalking her, having walked 23 miles to her home in Bromley, England, leaving unwanted gifts and stealing a shoe as a “souvenir.” The ordeal left Raducanu feeling “on edge” and as if her “freedom had been taken away,” forcing her family to consider relocating for better security. Reflecting on the latest incident, Raducanu took a subtle dig at the handling of such situations, stating, “I think after the Dubai incident, that was probably the worst [public attention] I’ve had… it could have been dealt with better.” Her comments highlight a broader issue in tennis, where players like Katie Boulter and Serena Williams have also faced similar threats, prompting calls for enhanced security protocols. “She’s such a great young woman, and to see her go through something like this isn’t nice,” Boulter said, offering support after the Dubai incident.
### Rising Above the Challenge
Despite the emotional weight of the fan ordeal, Raducanu delivered a commanding performance against Shibahara, securing a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 62 minutes—her fastest Grand Slam main-draw win ever. “It’s a relief,” she admitted, acknowledging the significance of breaking her four-year winless streak at the US Open. “I’m happy to have stopped that and feel I can keep going without that in my head.” Her aggressive baseline play and world-class two-handed backhand were on full display, even as the noisy Louis Armstrong Stadium and gusty conditions tested her focus. Raducanu’s newfound composure, honed under the guidance of coach Francisco Roig and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, has been a cornerstone of her 2025 resurgence. “I feel relaxed, I feel happy… enjoying my tennis, enjoying practicing, enjoying competing,” she said, a stark contrast to the “sad” and “down” feelings she expressed after her 2024 first-round exit.
### Looking Ahead in New York
Raducanu now faces Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen in the second round on August 27, a match set to begin at 11:00 AM local time on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Tjen, ranked No. 147, is coming off a stunning upset over No. 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova, making her a formidable opponent. A potential third-round clash with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina looms, followed by a possible quarter-final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, whom Raducanu pushed to a three-hour, nine-minute epic in Cincinnati earlier this month. “I’m very happy, I’ve got amazing people in my corner,” Raducanu said, crediting her team for helping her navigate both on-court challenges and off-court pressures.
### A Call for Change
The incident has reignited discussions about player safety in tennis. The WTA issued a statement affirming that “player safety is our top priority,” and tournaments like Indian Wells have already stepped up security for Raducanu, offering up to five additional guards under the oversight of former Secret Service agent Bob Campbell. Yet, Raducanu’s experience underscores the need for more proactive measures. “Since that incident, I have definitely got increased attention and greater security,” she noted, but her earlier critique suggests gaps in communication and response time, as the Dubai incident wasn’t reported to the WTA until hours before her match.
### A Star Undeterred
At 22, Raducanu is no stranger to scrutiny, from her coaching changes to her injury setbacks. Yet, her return to Flushing Meadows—her “happy place”—signals a turning point. Her 2021 US Open triumph, where she didn’t drop a set en route to defeating Leylah Fernandez, remains a defining moment in tennis history. Now, with a career-high number of WTA Tour wins in 2025 and a ranking nearing the top 30, Raducanu is poised for a deep run. As she prepares to face Tjen, fans are rallying behind her, inspired by her resilience in the face of adversity. Will she overcome the emotional scars of her latest ordeal to write a new chapter in New York? The tennis world is watching, eager to see the British star shine once more.
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