Emma Raducanu has arrived in Indian Wells and she is looking all smiles only days after going through one of the most traumatic experiences of her career.
10 days ago, the 2021 US Open champion broke down in tears on the court in Dubai and was in visible distress after noticing in the stands the stalker who also approached her in a restaurant a day earlier.
After the man in question was escorted out of the stadium and later handed a restraining order by the police, it was also revealed that the stalker also followed the Briton in some other tournaments during the Middle East swing.
Since Indian Wells was next on her schedule, the organizers figured out that Raducanu would probably want to feel secure and have assurances that she would be protected in the desert.
So they offered her up to five extra security guards.
And after accepting to come and play, she was spotted hanging around with Indian Wells tournament director and former star Tommy Haas.
How Raducanu reacted to the incident?
After it was revealed what caused the former world No. 10 to be distressed in Dubai, fellow players but also other members of the tennis community sent their support.
"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," she wrote a day after the incident in a message posted on her Instagram Story.
"Thank you to Karolna for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament."
Meanwhile, Raducanu is set for her fourth consecutive appearance in Indian Wells.
In 2023, the Briton made the round-of-16 in Indian Wells before losing to Iga Swiatek - that is her best result at the tournament.
Last year, she won her opening two matches but couldn't upset Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.
