The man accused of stalking tennis player Emma Raducanu tried to obtain tickets to Wimbledon but was blocked by the All England Club’s security system, British media reported Tuesday.
The BBC and others reported that the man tried to apply for tickets through the public ballot for the grand slam tournament that starts June 30. His name had been red-flagged.
At the Dubai Championships in February, the man exhibited “ fixated behavior ” toward the 22-year-old Raducanu, who became distressed during a match when she noticed him in the crowd.
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Emma Raducanu during the Dubai Championships in February. Tennis TV
A day earlier, he had left her a letter and took her photograph, which unnerved the 2021 US Open champion.
After seeing the man in the stands, Raducanu took shelter behind the umpire’s chair during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova. Raducanu later said she “couldn’t see the ball through tears ” and struggled to breathe before approaching the umpire.
The man was ejected from the tournament. He was later detained by Dubai police and signed a document pledging to “maintain distance” from Raducanu, who is ranked No. 36.
She told the BBC soon after the incident that it “could have been dealt with better.”
“Since that incident I have definitely got increased attention and greater security,” the 22-year-old said.
“I’m always now very aware and not necessarily doing things on my own any more.
“I’m always with someone and always being watched.”
The British tennis star fell victim to a stalker in 2022, with a different man given a five-year restraining order after he walked 37km to her home.
