Raducanu says she struggled to breathe during Dubai stalker incident

Emma Raducanu faced distressing stalker incident during Dubai Championships, impacting her performance, but returns to Indian Wells with enhanced security.

Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu said she could not see the ball through tears and was barely able to breathe after noticing a stalker during her match at the Dubai Championships two weeks ago.

Raducanu looked distressed during the opening set of her second-round clash against Karolina Muchova and stood behind the umpire's chair as security personnel led the man out.

The 22-year-old then resumed the match and lost 7-6(6) 6-4.

"I was obviously very distraught," Raducanu told reporters in Indian Wells, where she will return for the first time since the ordeal with enhanced security.

"I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to finish'.

"I literally couldn't see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe. I was like, 'I need to just take a breather'."

Raducanu said she had previously been approached twice off the court in Dubai by the man, who was also present during her matches in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Doha in preceding weeks.