Mirra Andreeva feels for Emma Raducanu as the 17-year-old shockingly revealed that three years ago she received a horrifying message that has since been in her mind.
After the 2021 US Open champion was visited by a stalker in her hotel but also the court, the WTA and security staff in Dubai quickly reacted by identifying that person and removing and banning him from the site.
But that sparked discussion about players’ safety on the Tour.
While many players have spoken highly about how the WTA protects its players, one thing remains an issue – social media abuse.
When addressing the Raducanu incident, Andreeva recalled a person threatening her to “cut your arms.”
“Of course, after every loss I think every player receives a bunch of hateful messages,” the Russian, who turns 18 in April, said in Dubai.
“I remember once when I was young, when I was 14 years old, I was playing one of my first ITF tournaments.
“And I received a message after my loss which said: ‘Look around, because I’m going to find you and I’m going to cut your arms.’
“That was still the one that I remember until today.”
The WTA remains ‘committed’ to protecting players
After the man arrived at Raducanu’s hotel with a letter, the officials were notified and he didn’t get to the Briton.
But then, the same person came to watch the Briton’s match against Karolina Muchova.
And that’s when he was dealt with for good.
“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events,” the WTA said after the Raducanu incident.
“The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.
“We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”
Tennis World USA