After her opening-round win at the Citi DC Open, Naomi Osaka was asked to consider the parallel journeys of herself and fellow Grand Slam champion Emma Raducanu. Osaka’s response took the conversation in an unexpected direction, shifting the focus from match results to the personal challenges faced by athletes off the court.
In her reply, Osaka showed a side of sports often left unspoken: concern for the well-being of colleagues navigating pressures and unseen hardships.
What Did Naomi Osaka Say About Emma Raducanu’s Struggles?
When a reporter asked about the similarities in the career trajectory of Raducanu and Osaka, and the struggles after winning the first Slam, the Japanese answered:
“Honestly, I feel like for her, this must be really tough because I read online she had a stalker. I don’t know if it’s allowed to say out loud, I don’t really know. And then I saw in Dubai or something there was, so honestly I really feel sad for her because that video was one of the most saddest videos I’ve ever seen.”
This was in reference to Raducanu’s second-round match against Karolína Muchová at the WTA 1000 hard court tournament in Dubai. After spotting her stalker in the stands, Raducanu stopped the match and was seen crying on court.
Osaka continued, talking about the pressure athletes face, and said: “I just hope she has a lot of really good people around her. And I think that there must be a lot of pressure from, I don’t know how British media is, but they don’t really seem the kindest. And I think she’s navigating it really well.”
The 27-year-old spoke softly, emphasizing that safety and mental calm matter as much as any practice session. Her words carried weight beyond typical player-to-player commentary, showing genuine concern for a fellow competitor’s well-being.
How Did Emma Raducanu’s Stalking Incident Unfold?
Raducanu’s distressing moment came on Feb. 19 in Dubai. Early in her second-round match against Karolína Muchová, she spotted a spectator who had followed her across four tournaments, triggering severe panic that she “couldn’t see the ball through tears” and “could barely breathe.” Security removed the man, and Dubai police later issued a restraining order and banned him from WTA events.
The situation escalated beyond that February incident. In June, Wimbledon’s ballot system flagged the same individual when he tried to buy tickets for this year’s Championships. The organizers blocked the request and alerted police.
The incident prompted the WTA to offer Raducanu up to five extra guards at Indian Wells, overseen by former US Secret Service agent Bob Campbell. Raducanu, Britain’s highest-ranked woman, travels only with trusted staff and remains “wary” off court.
Following this incident, Carlos Alcaraz shared his thoughts and said: “I never feel not safe during tournaments or in the club.” He also added, “there are some situations that you don’t feel safe with some fans, they never leave you alone.”
