As the lush green courts of Wimbledon prepare to host the world’s elite tennis players from June 30 to July 13, 2025, a chilling off-court drama has unfolded involving British tennis star Emma Raducanu. The 22-year-old, celebrated for her 2021 U.S. Open triumph, has faced a persistent stalker whose audacious attempt to secure tickets to the prestigious Grand Slam was swiftly foiled by the All England Club’s vigilant security system. This unsettling episode underscores the challenges faced by high-profile athletes and the robust measures in place to protect them.
The ordeal began during the Middle Eastern swing of the WTA tour in February 2025, when Raducanu, then ranked No. 36, endured a harrowing experience at the Dubai Tennis Championships. During her second-round match against Karolina Muchova, Raducanu broke down in tears, hiding behind the umpire’s chair after spotting a man in the stands who had been following her across tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. “I saw him in the first game of the match, and I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish,’” she later shared, her voice heavy with emotion. “I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe.” The man, who had approached her the previous day in a coffee shop near her hotel, handed her a letter and requested a photo, intensifying her distress. Dubai police intervened, issuing a restraining order and banning him from WTA events, with his details circulated to global tennis authorities.
Despite these measures, the individual, described as exhibiting “fixated behavior,” attempted to breach Wimbledon’s defenses by applying for tickets through the public ballot, which closed in 2024. The All England Club’s security team, conducting a thorough sweep of applications post-Dubai, flagged his name and blocked his entry, preventing a potential repeat of the Dubai nightmare. “The safety and wellbeing of all the players is our absolute top priority,” said Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, emphasizing the tournament’s commitment to security. She added, “We’re liaising with the tours, with the Met Police, with other security agencies right through the year to think about the types of risks we need to look at and adjusting what we put in place.” Wimbledon’s multi-layered security includes police, military personnel, fixated threat specialists, and behavioral detection officers trained to spot suspicious activity, with extensive CCTV coverage and rapid-response teams on standby.
This isn’t Raducanu’s first encounter with obsessive behavior. In 2022, another man received a five-year restraining order after trekking 23 miles to her family home in Bromley, leaving unwanted gifts. The recurrence of such incidents has left Raducanu cautious. “I’m obviously wary when I go out,” she admitted at a recent press conference. “I try not to be careless about it because you only realize how much of a problem it is when you’re in that situation.” Her vulnerability was compounded in Dubai by the absence of a full-time coach, which she said amplified her anxiety. Reflecting on the ordeal at Indian Wells in March, she noted, “In England, it’s pretty difficult for me to go out and about. Sometimes I’ve had neck pain from looking at the floor so much with a cap on.”
The Wimbledon incident has reignited discussions about player safety, particularly for female athletes navigating global fame. British No. 2 Katie Boulter recently shared her own struggles with online abuse and being followed by an unidentified vehicle in London, highlighting a broader issue within the sport. The WTA, responding to the Dubai incident, banned the stalker from future events and pledged support for Raducanu, stating, “Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices.” Raducanu, who opted not to press charges in Dubai, expressed gratitude for fan support, writing on Instagram, “Difficult experience yesterday, but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened.”
As Raducanu prepares for Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round in 2024, she remains focused on her game despite a recent back injury that forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open. She is expected to compete at the Lexus Eastbourne Open, buoyed by her new partnership with Carlos Alcaraz for mixed doubles at the upcoming U.S. Open. “I think feeling safe, feeling secure is extremely important,” she said last week, expressing confidence in Wimbledon’s protections. “Whenever I played at Wimbledon, I felt very well protected, very safe.” The All England Club’s swift action has ensured that Raducanu can step onto the grass courts with one less shadow looming, allowing her to focus on delivering the electrifying tennis that has captivated fans worldwide.
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