Emma Raducanu stalker nightmare sees former Wimbledon champion reveal moment sick fan sneaked in as groundsperson
MARION BARTOLI has relived her own Wimbledon harassment hell in the wake of Emma Raducanu’s terrifying episode with a stalker.
France’s 2013 Wimbledon champion has talked about being targeted by a man 18 years ago while competing in UK tennis tournaments.
As she made the singles final on SW19 grounds for the first time in 2007 – she was beaten in the Centre Court final by Venus Williams – it was amid a backdrop of being followed and targeted by a fixated individual.
It comes as Raducanu, 22, burst into tears on court in Dubai after feeling terrified by the presence of a guy in the stands who had approached her the day before.
Bartoli, 40, said: “Someone just followed me through the whole grass season in 2007.
“I played Birmingham and Eastbourne and that person found a way to get into the grounds, behaving like a ball kid and a groundsman.
“He found a way to purchase the same kit and get himself into my court as a groundsperson.
“And I sort of recognised him. It was from my first-round match against Flavia Pennetta.
“I pointed out straight away to the All England Club and the organisation of the tournament to say that he was not a groundsperson, he was not working there.
“He was someone who had been stalking me for three weeks. And they found a way to get his identity and get rid of him and put his picture on all the entrances of the All England Club.
“When you’re in that environment, it can feel very, very stressful. And I was very young back then.
“I was 22 years old as well, and I remember just getting on the court and saying to my dad, that person does not have the right to be on my courts.
“That’s the only time I experienced it to that close degree, which I think is a bit similar to what Emma has experienced.
“Even though that guy didn’t insult me, he was really, really stalking me.”
On Monday, Raducanu was approached by the obsessed stranger in the UAE city – he asked for a photo and gave her a note.
And then on Tuesday night, she hid behind the umpire’s chair when she recognised him watching her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova from the front rows of the stands.
The stalker was arrested by Dubai Police and though Raducanu dropped all charges, he has since signed a restraining order to keep away from her in the future.
Bartoli said: “It’s very disturbing to see those kinds of images, and very worrying as well.
“I was extremely proud of Emma for continuing to play and willing to give it a go, and willing to try to fight as much as she could despite the circumstances.
“But it’s very difficult when you get targeted like this.
“It’s very difficult for the WTA to have the control of people who can come into the gate without any tickets, which is the case in Dubai.
“When you come and sit on those outside courts, you don’t even need to purchase a ticket. You don’t even need to give an identity to get into the stands.
“And therefore, anyone can come in and behave that way.
“So I’m not sure how the WTA can prevent that. But I hope they will in the future.
“For Emma to stay on that court, to keep fighting, against a very good opponent, it was such a great effort.”