There was no immediate clarification on Tuesday when the 2021 U.S. Open champion approached the umpire after the second game, exchanged a few words, and then positioned herself in a narrow area between the back of the official’s chair and the barrier netting near Court 2.
Raducanu, still a teenager in 2022, had previously faced a stalking incident at her family home in Britain the year before, which resulted in a conviction. After a brief interruption while trailing 2-0, she resumed play but ultimately lost to 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova with a score of 7-6 (6), 6-4.
On Wednesday, the WTA released a statement clarifying that Raducanu had been approached in a public area on Monday by a man exhibiting fixated behavior, and that this individual was later identified in the front rows during her match on Tuesday before being removed from the venue.
“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
The chair umpire promptly contacted tournament officials after Raducanu expressed her concerns during the first set of the evening match, while Muchova approached to offer support to the 22-year-old British athlete.
Afterward, Raducanu took a towel, wiped her face, nodded, and resumed play without immediately addressing the incident.
The WTA announced that it is collaborating with Raducanu and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary assistance.
Raducanu gained widespread recognition in 2021 by winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier, marking one of the most remarkable accomplishments in tennis history. Since that victory, she has not progressed beyond the third round in any major tournament and has faced extended periods of recovery from injuries.