Emma Raducanu beefs up security for Indian Wells after stalker scare
Emma Raducanu has made up her mind whether or not she'll play in Indian Wells after her distressing security scare at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Emma Raducanu has decided to make a swift return to the WTA Tour after her stalker drama and will play in Indian Wells next week - with beefed up security.
The former US Open champion broke down in tears before a fixated fan was removed from her last match in Dubai.
And her stand-in coach Roman Kelecic revealed that the man - now given a restraining order - had followed her to tournaments in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Doha before approaching Raducanu in an onsite cafe in Dubai.
The Bromley-based star, 22, was shaken by the incident and considered taking a break from the game.
But the British No.2 will now travel to California to play along with his physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura and interim coach Tom Welsh.
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She is set to be given extra security of up to five staff to form a secure ring around her when she walks to and from court for practice and matches and signs autographs.
The show of force will be to reassure Raducanu and other competitors that the tournament will be a safe zone.
Raducanu’s search for a new full-time coach is continuing. The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells - the self-styled fifth Major - will start on Wednesday (March 5).
After the incident in Dubai, Raducanu said on Instagram: "Thank you for the messages of support.
"Difficult experience yesterday (Tuesday) but I'll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
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"Thank you to Karolina [Muchova] for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament."
The WTA said: "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."
