Emma Raducanu believes that the tennis club's management could have responded more effectively to the situation with her stalker, and now she is afraid of being left alone.
The 22-year-old British player was left hiding behind the judge's chair in tears after repeatedly facing unwanted attention from the “fixated” man before and during her second round match against Karolina Muchova in Dubai last month.
A dejected Raducanu returned home and considered taking a longer break before returning to the tour at this week's BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
The former US Open champion is under heavy security in California after a man twice approached Raducan while she was alone.
She told BBC Sport that she was pleased with the level of security she was currently receiving, saying: “(It) could have been handled better. I definitely got more attention and more security after that incident.”
“All we can do is look at what happened and respond to it more positively, rather than looking back and blaming circumstances. It's being handled better now, and that's why it matters to me.
“Now I'm always very careful and I don't necessarily do things alone. I'm always with someone and I'm constantly being watched.”
Raducanu decided not to press charges after the man's arrest, but he was banned from participating in future tournaments.
Her childhood coach Roman Kelecic, who was with her in the Emirates, told the Croatian publication that the man had been stalking Raducana throughout four tournaments and had tried to hug her.
She was clearly upset at the beginning of the meeting with Muchova, noticing him in the stands.
Speaking to British journalists in Indian Wells, Raducanu said: “I was obviously very upset.
“I saw him on the first play of the match and I was like, 'I don't know how this is going to end.' I literally couldn't see the ball because I was crying. I could barely breathe. I was like, 'I just need to take a break.'
Raducanu managed to pull herself together and continue the game after her opponent was taken away from the arena, but lost with a score of 7-6 6-4.
“It was a very emotional time,” Raducanu added. “After the match, I cried, but not necessarily because of the loss.
“There's been so much emotion over the last few weeks since the events and I just needed this week to rest and come here. I feel so much better.”
This is not the first time Raducanu has faced harassment: in 2022, an obsessive admirer was given a restraining order after visiting her home three times.
Raducanu will face Japan's Moyuka Uchijima, who is three spots above her at world No. 52, in the first round in California. The winner is guaranteed a matchup with third-seeded Coco Gauff, with all top 32 players receiving an automatic second-round berth.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
