WATCH: Panicked Raducanu Hides Behind Umpire's Chair And Cries In Concerning Moment
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Emma Raducanu briefly stopped playing during her 2025 Dubai Championships match against Karolina Muchova after suddenly becoming worried about something. The situation was so bad that she hid behind the umpire's chair.
Raducanu probably felt good heading into the match after ending a four-match losing streak against Maria Sakkari in the opening round. However, overcoming Muchova was always likely to be a more difficult challenge.
The Czech started better, winning the opening two games. After falling 0-2 behind, Raducanu suddenly walked to the umpire's chair, clearly upset and distressed by something.
Raducanu and Muchova's match was played on one of the smaller courts, and her conversation with the umpire could not be heard. However, the situation was severe enough for the official to go to her walkie-talkie and communicate something immediately.
As the umpire did this, a crying Raducanu hid behind the umpire's chair. Muchova, understandably confused by what had happened, graciously comforted her crying opponent during the troubling opponent.
Shortly after, Raducanu came out from behind the umpire's chair and stared out into the crowd as if something had changed before being ready to play again. It is not clear from the video below what happened in the crowd.
However, multiple users on social media stated that a person was escorted off the venue after Raducanu cried and spoke to the umpire. No reason was given for the man's sudden removal from the crowd.
While it is important to note that no official explanation has been provided to date by the tournament or Raducanu, there have been concerning stalking incidents in tennis, especially of WTA players.
Raducanu is among those who have been stalked in the past. In February 2022, a stalker was given a five-year restraining order after he walked 23 miles to her home at that time before being spotted on a camera by Raducanu's father.
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It is despicable that professional female athletes have to live with the worry of being stalked. This especially applies to those who had high-profile successes, which Raducanu did by winning the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier.
Although the cause of the spectator being removed in Dubai is unconfirmed, there must have been a particular and severe reason why Raducanu felt so uncomfortable with him sitting in the stands to watch her play.
After that incident, the 22-year-old deserves immense credit for being competitive against a player in Muchova's class. Raducanu lost 6-7(6-8), 4-6, but she can take several positives from her performance against the Czech.
Last year's Nottingham Open semifinalist is currently playing without a permanent coach because Nick Cavaday left her team for health and family reasons after the 2025 Australian Open, where Raducanu reached the third round.
After Cavaday's departure, Raducanu's form dipped at tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, but her performances in Dubai were a step in the right direction. With the level she showed against Muchova, the former US Open winner would win many matches.
