Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British tennis star and 2021 US Open champion, has decided to compete in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, starting March 5, following a distressing incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships. During her second-round match in Dubai, Raducanu was visibly shaken after spotting a man in the stands who had exhibited “fixated behavior” towards her. The man was removed by security, detained, and subsequently banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.
Raducanu had been deliberating whether to take a break but ultimately chose to participate in the Californian tournament, one of the most prestigious events outside the Grand Slams. She has been offered additional security at Indian Wells to ensure her safety. Ranked 55th in the world, she gained direct entry into the tournament and will be supported by her fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura and Tom Welsh for this event.
This decision comes after a challenging period for Raducanu, who has dealt with injuries and coaching transitions since her breakthrough US Open victory. Despite the recent incident, she expressed determination to move forward and compete