Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, faced a disturbing ordeal at the Dubai tournament. A man,now formally barred from future events by the WTA,relentlessly pursued her across multiple tournaments,from Singapore to Abu Dhabi,Doha,and finally Dubai.
Raducanu’s former coach, Roman Kelecic, detailed the unsettling pattern of harassment.”at first,we thought he was a fan,” Kelecic explained,”but his actions quickly escalated,from selfies to unwanted physical contact.” The relentless pursuit culminated in Dubai, where the man sought proximity to Raducanu during her match against Karolina Muchova.
A Calculated Campaign of Harassment
Kelecic painted a picture of calculated stalking. “This man meticulously planned his approach,” he asserted. “He evaluated the situation, seeking the perfect moment to engage wiht her. His strategy was terrifyingly effective,focusing on getting closer and closer.” Raducanu and her team immediately alerted tournament security, highlighting the paramount importance of her safety.
Emma Raducanu’s former coach Roman Kelecic has claimed the man given a restraining order in Dubai this week followed her across tournaments and countries since Singapore in January.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 22, 2025
Crucially, Raducanu and her team documented the harasser, providing a photograph to tournament security. This decisive action led to the harasser being banned from future WTA events,a measure aimed at restoring a sense of calm and security for the athlete.
