Emma Raducanu‘s early 2025 season has been disappointing, marked by three first-round defeats, a second-round exit, and a third-round elimination. But beyond these results, a more pressing issue looms: personal safety. In 2022, she was relentlessly stalked, leaving her feeling “no longer felt safe at her home,” Now, at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, another distressing incident left her in tears during her R32 match. But how will this affect her mentally for the rest of the season? A renowned ‘Italian psychologist’ has weighed in, shedding light on the psychological toll such events take on an athlete’s confidence and performance.

The story dates back to Tuesday when Raducanu’s second-round clash against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships took a distressing turn in the first set. Shaken by a spectator’s unsettling behavior from the stands, the former US champion sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair, prompting an immediate match pause. The security had to swiftly remove the individual, while Muchova offered comforting words. Though Raducanu bravely resumed play after a warm ovation, the emotional strain was undeniable. 

However, the disruption proved costly, as she ultimately fell in a hard-fought battle, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. And, now, Valentina Pierangeli, a leading sports and exercise psychologist at The Bodart Practice in London, has rung the alarm bells for the former World No. 10. Pierangeli reckons moving past the unsettling Dubai incident won’t be easy, and Raducanu may now find it difficult to regain full focus in the tournaments coming up.

While taking to Express Sport, Pierangeli said, “These stressors don’t just affect performance in the moment. They can have lasting psychological effects. Influencing confidence and focus in future competitions. Elite athletes are conditioned to handle immense pressure, but unexpected disruptions, especially those related to personal safety, can profoundly impact performance. Emma Raducanu’s distress during her match in Dubai highlights a crucial yet often overlooked element of sports psychology: the effect of external stressors on an athlete’s mental state,” 

The psychological expert also urged authorities to prioritize the safety of professional players, emphasizing that their protection should go beyond physical concerns. Pierangeli stressed the importance of creating a secure environment where players can compete without fear, knowing well that their overall well-being is safeguarded. “This incident underscores the broader responsibility of event organizers and governing bodies to ensure that player well-being is safeguarded beyond physical injuries. Creating an environment where athletes feel emotionally secure both on and off the court,” she added. And what did the authorities do after the Raducanu incident?

A subsequent WTA statement indicated a prior encounter between the ejected spectator and the Brit earlier in the week at a public location. However, the Tour also quoted that the man has been “banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment”. The 22-year-old later withdrew the charges against the repeat offender, who remains banned from all WTA events pending the threat assessment. Furthermore, a formal agreement has been signed by him to maintain a distance from Raducanu, as reported by an emirate media office. Raducanu, subsequently, confirmed her well-being as well.

“I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back,” — Emma Raducanu responds after the Dubai incident

Emma Raducanu’s objective while entering the 2025 season was to overcome the setbacks caused by a succession of injuries that had interrupted her remarkable progress since her 2021 US Open victory. In 2023 itself, the British No. 1 battled a left ankle injury, tonsillitis, and a lower back issue, forcing multiple tournament withdrawals. While she made a determined return last year, her overall performance still didn’t meet the standards she had set for herself.

As she looks to set things straight this season, the unfortunate incident in Dubai hasn’t helped, but her resilience underpins her character. Just after the match, she wrote, “Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match. Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament,” on her IG story.

Do you think Emma will be able to bounce back after this challenging start to the season? Share your thoughts in the comments down below!