WATCH: Concerning scenes as Emma Raducanu hides behind umpire's chair in panic & breaks down in tears at Dubai Tennis Championships

Emma Raducanu sparked concern during her match against Karolina Muchova at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships. She appeared to experience a panic attack on court and later broke down in tears, raising worries about her well-being.

Raducanu had a challenging 2024 season but started the new year with renewed confidence at the Australian Open, where she reached the third round before falling to Iga Swiatek. However, her momentum stalled with three consecutive first-round exits at the Singapore Open, Abu Dhabi Open, and Qatar Open before heading to Dubai.

In Dubai, Raducanu received a main draw wildcard and started strong with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Maria Sakkari. This set up a second-round clash with 14th seed Karolína Muchova, where she fought hard but ultimately fell 6-7(6), 4-6.

It wasn’t just the loss that made the match tough for Emma Raducanu—she also had a difficult moment on court against Karolína Muchová. At one point, she was seen speaking to the umpire while struggling to catch her breath, appearing panicked.

The former US Open champion then hid behind the umpire’s chair, clearly distressed. Noticing this, her opponent approached to console her. After a brief moment, Raducanu emerged and wiped her teary face with a towel before continuing.

Watch the video below:

Emma Raducanu's breakdown at Dubai Tennis Championships caused by a man

Emma Raducanu pictured at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships | Image Source: Getty

Emma Raducanu’s breakdown at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships was an unusual and unsettling moment, something we hadn’t seen from her before. The incident was reportedly triggered by a man in the stands whose presence made her feel uncomfortable. He was later removed from the venue.

The WTA has now released a statement, stating:

"On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior. This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment."

"Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players."

Raducanu has yet to comment on the incident. For now, she will take some necessary rest and is expected to return in time for her next tournament, though the exact event remains unknown.