Emma Raducanu Returns to Court Smiling After Dubai Stalker Incident

Emma Raducanu was seen smiling on court as she prepares to return to action at Indian Wells next week, just two weeks after a traumatic encounter with a stalker during the Dubai Open.

The 22-year-old Brit has not played since the harrowing ordeal in Dubai, where a man exhibiting "fixated behaviour" approached her near her hotel, handing her a letter with his contact details and taking a photo. Later, when the man appeared in the crowd during her match, Raducanu broke down in tears and sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair while security removed him. The man, a tourist, was detained by Dubai police, but Raducanu chose to drop charges after he signed a restraining order.

The incident left Raducanu shaken, and she returned to London to recover from the experience. Since then, she has been seen smiling again as she prepares to return to competition at Indian Wells, where she has been offered extra protection, with up to five security officers to escort her around the tournament grounds.

On Friday, the official social media accounts of Indian Wells shared photos of Raducanu smiling during a practice session. In one photo, she posed with Tommy Haas, the former German professional and tournament director of Indian Wells. In another, she appeared relaxed while sitting down, showing a positive sign for her fans ahead of her return.

Raducanu has not been practicing at the National Tennis Centre since the incident, but after careful consideration, she decided to play in one of the biggest non-Grand Slam events of the year. The former US Open champion will play her first match at Indian Wells next week, with her ranking of No. 55 securing her direct entry into the tournament.

As Raducanu continues her recovery, she is working with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura and Tom Welsh, a coach at the LTA’s Loughborough Tennis Academy. Welsh, a former hitting partner of Leylah Fernandez, is believed to be working with Raducanu temporarily for the Indian Wells event only.

The Dubai authorities have responded swiftly to the incident, detaining the man who approached Raducanu and placing him on a watchlist. While Raducanu chose to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to stay away from her and has been banned from future tournaments.

Raducanu took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support after the ordeal, sharing that while it had been a difficult experience, she was proud of how she handled the situation and competed in the match.

With Indian Wells fast approaching, Raducanu is ready to move forward and continue chasing her goals on the tennis court, with her fans eagerly awaiting her return.

 Sabalenka Praises WTA’s New Mission, Welcomes Saudi Investment

World number one Aryna Sabalenka expressed strong support for the WTA's mission to spotlight the personalities of its athletes, while also endorsing Saudi Arabia’s investment in the women’s tennis tour. The WTA’s rebranding, which includes a new logo and the tagline "Rally the World," coincides with the rising global viewership and a record $4.8 million prize awarded to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals in Riyadh—an event sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

In an interview on Friday, Sabalenka shared her enthusiasm about the WTA's new direction:
"It means a lot. We needed this refreshing moment for so long," she said. "It's a big move, and I hope it's going to help our sport get better."

Sabalenka, known for her powerful serve and aggressive style, highlighted the importance of offering fans a closer, more intimate look at the players' lives. She believes this will not only engage existing fans but also inspire the next generation of athletes.
"The WTA should show our personalities and what it takes to become a top athlete," she added. "We all have to be an inspiration for the younger generation."

The WTA's new partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) was announced last May and marks a major shift for the tour. In the past, the WTA was hesitant to embrace Saudi involvement due to the country’s controversial human rights record. However, Sabalenka is optimistic about the partnership’s impact, noting that Saudi Arabia has shown a strong passion for sports and its support is critical for the future of women’s tennis.

"I've been there a lot, and they have passion for sport. Their help means a lot for us," she said. "Their support is very important for the WTA. I think all of us will be very grateful for their support."

The ATP Tour also signed a multi-year "strategic partnership" with PIF last year, following the fund's investments in various high-profile global sports, including soccer, Formula One, and LIV Golf.

WTA Ventures CEO Marina Storti also voiced her excitement about the partnership, highlighting the importance of inspiring new markets and diverse fans:
"Our players are very excited to be in a country where they could be inspirational role models," Storti said. "It was fantastic to see Coco Gauff as our champion, playing in a full house in front of boys and girls, men and women of Saudi Arabia, who can look to her as an inspirational figure."

The WTA's new approach is part of an effort to expand into new markets and inspire fans worldwide.

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 Pegula to Play Kessler in All-American Austin Final

Top seed Jessica Pegula advanced to her second final of 2025 with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic at the WTA 250 ATX Open on Saturday. Pegula, who was a runner-up to Madison Keys at the Adelaide International in January, will now seek her seventh career singles title and her first since winning the WTA 1000 in Toronto last summer. On Sunday, she will face No. 5 seed McCartney Kessler in an all-American final.

Pegula's Journey to the Final

After a dominant first set, where Tomljanovic struggled with seven double faults and four service breaks, the Australian player fought back in the second set. Pegula had to dig deep to secure her 16th career singles final. In the end, the World No. 4 won in just under two hours.

"We were a little hit or miss with our serves today... It was pretty hot today, and the ball was flying, but once I started serving a little more consistently, smarter, that was the key," Pegula said after the match.

Pegula's first career WTA 250 title came at the Seoul Open in 2021. She has since added more titles to her resume but hasn’t won a U.S.-based event since her 2019 Citi Open victory in Washington, D.C. Last year, she was the runner-up in both Cincinnati and the U.S. Open.

"Every final is new... Being in the U.S., I want to show that I’m one of the best Americans, one of the best players in the world. Being able to do that on home soil is always special," Pegula added.

Kessler Stuns Minnen to Reach Second Final of 2025

In the other semifinal, McCartney Kessler battled past Belgian Greet Minnen 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour and 34 minutes to reach her second final of 2025. Kessler, who was ranked outside the Top 100 at this time last year, continues to build momentum after a remarkable rise in the rankings.

Kessler had to recover from losing early leads in both sets. She rallied from 3-1 down in the first set and after missing an opportunity to serve it out at 5-4, Kessler won back-to-back games to seal the set. She then broke Minnen’s serve twice in the second set to clinch the victory.

With this win, Kessler improves to 2-0 in career semifinals and is now just one match away from capturing her third WTA title in less than a year. The Hobart champion, who recently earned her first Top 10 win over Coco Gauff at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, will look to level her record against Pegula.

What’s at Stake

This will be the sixth all-American WTA singles final of the decade, with Pegula’s recent loss to Keys in the Adelaide final marking the fifth. Pegula and Kessler’s upcoming meeting will add to this trend and promises to be an exciting matchup between two of the United States' top players.

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Four More ATP Players Pull Out of Indian Wells as American Teenager Qualifies by Ranking

The field for the upcoming Indian Wells Masters has shifted as four players have been confirmed to withdraw from the event, with replacements already named.

As the first ATP Tour Masters 1000 event of the season approaches, players are eager to make their mark during the North American hard court swing, often seen as a key lead-up to the bigger tournaments.

However, some players will miss out, with the tournament, often dubbed the ‘fifth Grand Slam’ by fans, undergoing some changes in the draw.

Players Out of Indian Wells

Among those who will not be participating are America’s Reilly Opelka, who will miss out on the chance to play on home soil, and Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who is also confirmed to be absent. Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis recently underwent surgery to repair a pectoral injury, ruling him out for an extended period, while Chile’s Nicolas Jarry has also pulled out.

Replacements Named

Their spots will be filled by Britain’s Jacob Fearnley, Australia’s Chris O’Connell, Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, and American teenager Learner Tien.

Tien, 19, has been one of the standout young players of 2025. He was initially given a wildcard to enter the tournament but has now secured his place based on his ranking, meaning his wildcard spot can be offered to another player. Tien’s qualification by ranking is a significant achievement, and he will be making his debut in the Masters 1000 main draw.

Learner Tien: A Rising Star

Tien has already had an impressive start to 2025. After reaching the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals, where he finished as runner-up to Joao Fonseca, the American has continued his strong form. He made it to the last 16 at the Australian Open and progressed to the quarter-finals at the Mexican Open. His left-handed game, marked by his ability to create sharp angles, has proven very effective, and he’s already secured victories over top players like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev this year.

The 19-year-old will look to continue his strong 2025 season and make a statement at Indian Wells.

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Novak Djokovic Comically Trolls Stefanos Tsitsipas After His Dubai Triumph

Novak Djokovic didn’t waste any time sending a playful jab at his old rival Stefanos Tsitsipas following the Greek star’s impressive win at the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

Tsitsipas, who had been struggling for form in recent months and had dropped out of the ATP Top 10, was back to his brilliant best in Dubai. After a series of unexpected defeats, the 26-year-old admitted that he was struggling with his confidence, leading him to make a change ahead of the tournament—switching to a new racket.

That decision paid off as Tsitsipas played outstandingly throughout the tournament, eventually lifting the trophy after defeating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in the final. The victory was particularly significant as it marked the end of an unusual record: Tsitsipas had appeared in 11 ATP 500 finals before but had lost every single one.

Reflecting on the moment, Tsitsipas expressed his joy at breaking the streak of final defeats. Djokovic, always keen to have a bit of fun with his rivals, took to social media to congratulate Tsitsipas in his own unique way. Posting on Instagram, the 24-time Grand Slam champion wrote: “No one beats @stefanostsitsipas98 12x in a row on 500 Tour level. Well done!”

Despite the cheeky tone, Djokovic acknowledged the significance of Tsitsipas’ win, as it marked a massive boost to his career. The victory not only secured Tsitsipas’ first ATP 500 title but also saw him climb back into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings, where he will be ranked No. 9 when the next list is updated.

Tsitsipas spoke about the importance of returning to the Top 10, saying, “These are the things we are fighting for as professional tennis players. To be in the top 10 is definitely one of the greatest feelings a tennis player can experience. It comes with hard work, sacrifices, and difficult moments you have to endure. I’m happy I’m in a position to really celebrate right now.”

Reflecting on his Dubai triumph, Tsitsipas added, “There’s nothing I can say that ensured the win today. It was pure fighting and trying my best to avoid a third final loss. It was nerve-wracking. I had a great opponent on the other side of the net. I’m just proud of how I managed to handle the pressure and perform in those crucial moments.”

“This is something I was fighting for a long time. It’s great that it happened here in Dubai. My game kind of clicked, and things worked well from the beginning. I’m very happy with how things progressed over the week and how I was able to close out some matches that didn’t seem like they belonged to me.”

“I had some crazy fights out here. It’s a big relief that I’m able to hold that trophy finally after my third attempt. It’s something I had in the back of my mind. I’m happy I can say I accomplished it.”