Emma Raducanu’s former coach claims she identified her stalker early in her Tuesday night match in Dubai.
The 22-year-old British tennis player was visibly distressed, crying and seeking refuge behind the umpire’s chair when the stalker was escorted out by security.
Dubai police arrested the individual, but charges were dropped after he agreed to stay away from Raducanu and was banned from future tournaments.
Roman Kelecic, Raducanu’s former temporary coach, stated that the stalker had been pursuing her in Singapore, the UAE, and Qatar over the past month.
Kelecic recounted the Tuesday incident to Croatian news outlet Net: “Three or four hours before the match, we had a photo of this stalker. Tournament security also had his photo. During the first game, just two points in, Emma, on the opposite side of the court, signaled to us. Initially, we were unsure what was wrong. After losing the first game, Emma ran to us, crying and repeatedly saying, ‘here he is, here he is’.”
The stalker had previously approached Raducanu in a restaurant on Monday, leaving a note and taking her picture.
Kelecic explained, “That was the only moment in a month when I, the fitness coach, and the security guard were not with her. It seems the man was assessing the situation, seeking an opportunity to approach her.”
“His strategy was alarming; he meticulously planned everything to get closer to her.”
Kelecic added, “It’s frightening how much he planned and calculated everything. His strategy was effective in getting closer to her.”
On Monday, Raducanu’s stalker managed to get “physically close” to her, even posing for selfies.
Kelecic disclosed, “This man followed her to Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and now Dubai. Initially, we mistook him for a fan because Emma has a vast fan base. However, it became clear when he started getting physically close, initiating contact through selfies and hugs.”
On Wednesday, Raducanu released a statement on her Instagram, saying: “Thank you for the messages of support. Yesterday was a difficult experience, but I will be okay. I am proud of how I recovered and competed despite the unsettling start to the match. Thank you to Karolina for her sportsmanship, and I wish her well for the rest of the tournament.”
