Wimbledon chiefs insist security will be ‘a top priority’ this year after British star Emma Raducanu’s stalking ordeal

By MATTHEW LAMBWELL and DOMINIC HOGAN

Wimbledon say security will be ‘a top priority’ at the Championships, in a year when Emma Raducanu’s stalking ordeal threw the issue into the spotlight.

The 22-year-old was pursued over four countries by a man displaying ‘fixated behaviour’ and things came to a head in Dubai when the sight of the man in the stands during her match reduced her to tears. 

Since then, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek was verbally abused from the sidelines during a practice session at the Miami Open, and Katie Boulter has talked about receiving death threats.

‘The safety and wellbeing of all of the players is our absolute top priority,’ said Wimbledon CEO Sally Bolton. 

‘The recent incidents coming to light, we certainly recognise the concern generated by that. 

‘But we have in place – and have had for many years – processes for ensuring the safety of our players.

Wimbledon have revealed security will be a top priority at this summer’s competition

Emma Raducanu was subjected to a stalking ordeal which came to a head earlier on this year

The Brit was targeted by a ‘fixated’ man in the stands who had watched her first-round match days earlier in Dubai

‘And that is in liaison with law enforcement agencies, specialist security teams and we liaise with both tours.

‘It is absolutely a top priority for us. We wouldn’t comment on any details in respect of any individual athlete but that intelligence is being gathered working with those other parties throughout the year to make sure we have got the right measures in place.’

Two games into her Dubai clash with Karolina Muchova she had to hide behind the umpire’s chair and was in tears while a man – who ‘exhibited fixated behaviour’ – was removed from the arena and later handed a restraining order. 

Raducanu made her return to action at Indian Wells back in March, but has now spoken about how things have changed for her since the events of Dubai, as she prepares for her first home outing at Queen’s.

‘I’ve definitely noticed a difference in how people are watching my back when I’m on the site [at tournaments],’ she told BBC Sport.

‘I’m obviously wary when I go out. I try not to be careless about it because you only realise how much of a problem it is when you’re in that situation and I don’t necessarily want to be in that situation again.

‘But off the court right now, I feel good. I feel pretty settled. I feel like I have good people around me and anything that was kind of negative I’m just like trying to brush it off as much as I can.’

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Wimbledon chiefs insist security will be ‘a top priority’ this year after British star Emma Raducanu’s stalking ordeal

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