Emma Raducanu says she “doesn’t feel like I’m hiding anymore” after going through a stalking experience earlier this year that left her in tears in court.
Back in March, Raducanu said she “couldn’t look at the ball through the tears” and was “barely breathing” during her ordeal in stalking at the Dubai Open.
That day, the Brit walked to the judge’s chair in tears just two games after losing to Karolina Muhova, after again receiving unwanted attention from the “fixated” man before and during her second-round match. She revealed to Radučana that she had been approached by a man outside the field twice before in different countries.
She later decided not to press charges, but the person was banned from future tournaments.
“I say, ‘Okay, are (people) going to see me on the subway?’ Not a bad thing. Somehow I just own it more,” Raducanu told the media at the National Tennis Center on Tuesday.
“If people recognize me, if people see me and want to come up to me, then that’s great. I don’t necessarily feel like I’m hiding from anything anymore.”
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Raducan was left in tears in Dubai earlier this year after the man who chased her around the country was ejected from the stands
Radučanu, who turned 23 earlier this month, said she even suffered from neck pain from previously keeping her head down in public.
“I went to work on the train, so I was part of the rush hour every day, which was also an experience,” she said. “But it’s like my turn off.
“You know what’s really funny: At rush hour, people are so locked into their own worlds. Everyone’s so focused, like they’re not really paying attention. They probably don’t expect to see me either. I have my hood up or whatever, but they’re so focused and absorbed in their worlds.
“It’s all so crazy, like a rush where everyone’s walking around. It’s like everyone’s on a mission. You have to stick your elbows out just to get through.”
“My neck doesn’t hurt because I don’t look down so much.”
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Raducanu previously told Sky Sports she was happy to be back in Indian Wells after her ordeal in Dubai, where she said she “couldn’t look at the ball through tears” and was “barely breathing”.
Reflecting on his stalking experience, he tells Raducan that it’s over now.
“Honestly, I’m over it,” she said.
“What freaked me out was I saw a photo of myself in London and I didn’t see the dads (paparazzo photographers). I was with my two best friends. This happened last week, and it was like some tabloid article saying I have a new boyfriend or whatever. But it’s literally my best friend’s brother. I was like, ‘Come on, guys.’
“We went to the rugby and of course they kicked my best friend out so it was just me and this guy and I just didn’t see the dads. So that’s obviously creepy. How did they get this photo? But other than that, I feel good because someone’s always got my back.”
Reflecting on her 2025 season, Raducanu says it makes her feel stronger.
The Briton says she has learned a lot in 2025 on and off the court
“I’m happy. I think I’ve learned a lot about myself this year.”
“I went through some really tough times, on and off the court, at the beginning of the year. But I think it really taught me the strength to get out of it. Also, what do I need to do to not fall back down.
“A lot of it is spending time learning, spending time learning, spending time nurturing your brain.”
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