Iga Swiatek supports WTA ban after Emma Raducanu's fan incident

WTA bans man for fixated behavior after Emma Raducanu's distressing encounter in Dubai.

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her women's singles third-round match against Emma Raducanu of Great Britain on day seven of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, on January 18, 2025. Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Iga Swiatek has praised the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for taking decisive action after a distressing incident involving Emma Raducanu at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The former U.S. Open champion was visibly shaken and in tears during her match against Karolina Muchova after encountering a fan whose behavior raised security concerns.

The WTA has since confirmed that the individual, who had previously approached Raducanu in a public area, has been banned from all WTA events pending a full threat assessment. Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner, commended the organization for prioritizing player safety.

"I know the WTA banned this person from going on-site anywhere on any tournament, so I guess the reaction was pretty solid," Swiatek said on Wednesday. "I like that because it's the WTA's responsibility to keep us safe, for that environment to be safe for us."

Raducanu left in tears as fan disrupts match

The incident occurred during Raducanu's rain-delayed second-round match against Muchova on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Briton appeared visibly distressed at 2-0 in the first set and approached the umpire’s chair in tears. The match was briefly halted while officials intervened, and security escorted the spectator from the stands. Muchova, showing sportsmanship, comforted Raducanu before play resumed.

According to the WTA, the same man had previously interacted with Raducanu earlier in the week, raising concerns about player safety at tournaments.

Swiatek warns of safety risks for players

Swiatek, currently ranked world number two, acknowledged that even with strict security measures in place, such incidents can still occur. The Polish star revealed that she had a similar close call in her home country and stressed the importance of remaining vigilant in public settings.

"We were able to avoid one incident that might have been scary back in the day when I was hosting my own event in Poland," Swiatek said. "There are fans that are kind of everywhere, but I'm pretty sure that they don't have any bad intentions."

Swiatek also emphasized the importance of being cautious on social media, suggesting that players delay posting their locations to avoid unwanted attention.

Mirra Andreeva reveals threats from online bettors

The issue of player harassment extends beyond in-person encounters. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva spoke out about the alarming volume of threats she receives online, particularly from sports bettors angered by match results.

"After every loss, I think every player receives a bunch of hateful messages," the 17-year-old Andreeva revealed.

She recalled a particularly chilling message from when she was just 14 and competing in ITF tournaments.

"I received a message after my loss that said: 'Look around because I'm going to find you and I'm going to cut your arms.' That was still the one that I remember to this day."

While Andreeva says she feels safe at tournaments and is always accompanied by security when signing autographs, she acknowledged that the harassment problem remains unresolved.

Harassment and violence in women's tennis

The harassment of female tennis players is not a new issue. Some of the sport’s greatest champions, including Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, and Martina Hingis, have dealt with stalkers. The most infamous case was in 1993 when Monica Seles was stabbed on court by a fan obsessed with her rival, Steffi Graf.

More recently, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was attacked and severely injured in her own home by a knife-wielding intruder in December 2016.

With safety concerns continuing to affect players, the WTA's action against Raducanu's stalker serves as a reminder of the risks athletes face both online and in person. Swiatek and other top players are calling for further measures to ensure that the sport remains a safe space for competitors at all levels.