Latest news with #NickCavaday
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘I don't want to be in that situation again' – Emma Raducanu ‘wary' of going out after stalker left her in tears
EMMA RADUCANU has been "wary" when she goes out since her Dubai stalker hell. The British star, 22, was left in tears on court when an obsessed man appeared at her match-up with Karolina Muchova in Dubai. 6 6 The man, who is said to have followed Raducanu 3,600 miles across Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai, was subsequently given a restraining order. Raducanu is now set to play on home soil for the first time since her stalker ordeal, as she competes in the HSBC Championships at Queen's this week. Reflecting on what she went through in Dubai, the former US Open champion told the BBC: "I've definitely noticed a difference in how people are watching my back when I'm on the site. "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." Raducanu is set to be in action this week as women's tennis returns to West London's historic Queen's Club for the first time since 1973. The world No37 will take on qualifier Cristina Bucsa in round one on Tuesday. Katie Boulter. 6 6 Raducanu has been boosted by the return of former coach Nick Cavaday. The pair temporarily stopped working together earlier this year as Cavaday battled a health issue. Emma Raducanu breaks down in tears during match against Karolina Muchova Following a brief stint with Vlado Platenik, Raducanu reunited with another former coach, Mark Petchey. Ahead of Queen's, Raducanu confirmed that she will be working with both Cavaday and Petchey moving forward. She said: "I'm happy to see Nick healthy. 'It's been a long time since we were last on court together in Australia. Nick was around, and it was nice to just have a few days with him and they'll both be helping me. 'They both have banks of experience and can complement each other really well. I trust them both and that is fundamental.' Raducanu, who was beaten in round two of Roland Garros by Iga Swiatek, has played well on the grass in the past - but is not expecting much of herself this time around due to a recent injury scare. 'MY EXPECTATIONS, TRUTHFULLY, ARE PRETTY LOW' The British No2 said: "Of course you want to win the tournament, especially when it's at home. 'But my expectations, truthfully, are pretty low. 'I had two days off after I finished in Paris and then got straight back on the court. 'But I had a small interruption with a back spasm again, so that was a bit annoying and hindered my grass preparation. 'It kept me off court for a few days although the last few days I've managed to get on the grass and begin to try and feel my feet. 'So I don't know how it will hold up. I can't really predict the future or how it's going to be.' Following Queen's, Raducanu is next scheduled to play in Eastbourne, with the event getting underway on June 23. She will then head to Wimbledon looking to go on a run, having reached the fourth round last year before agonisingly falling to qualifier Lulu Sun. 6
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Emma Raducanu says she is ‘wary when going out' after stalker ordeal in Dubai
British No 2 Emma Raducanu admitted she was 'wary' when going out following her ordeal with a stalker at the Dubai Championships earlier this year. The 22-year-old hid behind the umpire's chair in tears after receiving repeated unwanted attention from a 'fixated' man before and during a second-round match against Karolina Muchova in February. At the time, Raducanu said she 'couldn't see the ball through tears' and could 'barely breathe', while she revealed now that the situation was exacerbated by her being unsettled without a full-time coach. While Raducanu still minds her surroundings, the 2021 US Open champion wants to move on as she approaches the grass-court season with coaches Mark Petchey and Nick Cavaday in tow. 'It was difficult,' she told BBC Sport. 'It was emphasised by the fact I didn't necessarily feel certain or comfortable in my own set-up and team so it just added to the anxious feeling. '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. '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 negative, I kind of brush it off as much as I can.' Raducanu, who suffered a second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, is managing a back issue in the build-up to Wimbledon, having been hindered by persistent spasm issues for much of 2025. She will feature in the inaugural women's Queen's Club Championships this week, where she will take on Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa in the first round.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu reveals impact of stalker ordeal: ‘I'm wary when I go out'
British number two Emma Raducanu admitted she was 'wary' when going out following her ordeal with a stalker at the Dubai Championships earlier this year. The 22-year-old hid behind the umpire's chair in tears after receiving repeated unwanted attention from a 'fixated' man before and during a second-round match against Karolina Muchova in February. At the time, Raducanu said she 'couldn't see the ball through tears' and could 'barely breathe', while she revealed now that the situation was exacerbated by her being unsettled without a full-time coach. While Raducanu still minds her surroundings, the 2021 US Open champion wants to move on as she approaches the grass-court season with coaches Mark Petchey and Nick Cavaday in tow. 'It was difficult,' she told BBC Sport. 'It was emphasised by the fact I didn't necessarily feel certain or comfortable in my own set-up and team so it just added to the anxious feeling. '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. '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 negative, I kind of brush it off as much as I can.' Raducanu, who suffered a second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, is managing a back issue in the build-up to Wimbledon, having been hindered by persistent spasm issues for much of 2025. She will feature in the inaugural women's Queen's Club Championships this week, where she will take on Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa in the first round.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu: I'm ‘wary' when going out after stalker ordeal in Dubai
British number two Emma Raducanu admitted she was 'wary' when going out following her ordeal with a stalker at the Dubai Championships earlier this year. The 22-year-old hid behind the umpire's chair in tears after receiving repeated unwanted attention from a 'fixated' man before and during a second-round match against Karolina Muchova in February. At the time, Raducanu said she 'couldn't see the ball through tears' and could 'barely breathe', while she revealed now that the situation was exacerbated by her being unsettled without a full-time coach. While Raducanu still minds her surroundings, the 2021 US Open champion wants to move on as she approaches the grass-court season with coaches Mark Petchey and Nick Cavaday in tow. 'It was difficult,' she told BBC Sport. 'It was emphasised by the fact I didn't necessarily feel certain or comfortable in my own set-up and team so it just added to the anxious feeling. '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. '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 negative, I kind of brush it off as much as I can.' Raducanu, who suffered a second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, is managing a back issue in the build-up to Wimbledon, having been hindered by persistent spasm issues for much of 2025. She will feature in the inaugural women's Queen's Club Championships this week, where she will take on Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa in the first round.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Emma Raducanu on feeling 'wary', coaching change and Queen's 2025
Adversity. Scrutiny. the four years since Emma Raducanu wrote the ultimate feel-good tale of a sporting underdog by winning the US Open as a qualifier, the sequels of social media abuse and stalking have left her dwelling on those three a result, she is now "wary" when she goes 22-year-old was left in tears and hiding behind the umpire's chair four months ago after being targeted by a stalker during a match in said it had been "difficult" to move on and that matters had not been helped by instability in the team around her at a time when she was without a full-time as she prepared to compete in the new women's event at Queen's this week, she looked relaxed on a practice court in front of the dozens of fans who had packed in to catch a glimpse. Raducanu said she has been feeling safer at tournaments and her spirits were also lifted by the return to her team of former coach Nick Cavaday for the grass-court season."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."But it does not necessarily come naturally."When you see those negative headlines, especially, it is really hard," she added. "I'm someone who cares what people think and what people say. So it is not easy for me to deal with."The British number two begins her Queen's campaign on Monday against Spain's Cristina Bucsa but has played down her expectations and is managing an ongoing issue of back spasms. 'Bad energy lingers' A group of ball girls giggle with excitement as they spot Raducanu hitting at Queen's Club on remains a huge draw to fans, sponsors and tournament organisers. Multiple wrist and ankle operations and a series of other injuries derailed her attempts to build on that Grand Slam triumph in New York and frequent changes to her coaches also prompted questions around her coach, Vladimir Platenik, remained in her team for just a fortnight earlier this she is starting this grass-court season with a more familiar and stable team, bringing back childhood coach Cavaday - who stepped aside for health reasons in January - to work alongside Mark Petchey, a former coach of Andy Murray."[In] the last couple months I found some better form but I've also learnt about myself that I can't necessarily do it with people that I don't trust, or I don't necessarily like so, truthfully, for me that's what's improved as well in the last couple months," she said."I have a pretty good gut feeling and intuition about people who I get on with, and who I trust. "And I think sometimes I try and reason with myself because logically I'm like, 'OK, well, maybe this person can bring me this and I need it', and I try and force myself through it, but I've just realised, it doesn't work."And when there's a bad energy or bad environment, it just lingers."Raducanu reached the Miami Open quarter-finals and fourth round at the Italian Open since linking up with Petchey on a casual basis in March, but lost to Iga Swiatek in the second round of this month's French who oversaw her rise back into the top 60 after she missed much of 2023 while recovering from surgeries, had been Raducanu's sixth full-time coach of her professional career, following partnerships with Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs."I'm happy to see him healthy first of all, it has been a long time since we were last on court together in Australia," Raducanu told a news conference when speaking about Cavaday."Mark is in Paris commentating [on the French Open], Nick was around and it was nice to have a few days with him. They'll both be helping me throughout the grass [season] ... I trust them both a lot." Home comforts at Queen's For Raducanu, being back in London does not feel like being at a tournament - which she likes."I love going for walks, like knowing where everything is and also just being able to switch off and detach," she said. "Your friends, your family are in the city, whereas when you're on site [at other tournaments], you see the other players and you get into that mode but [here] you can go home."And the first women's tournament at Queen's for more than half a century is not only providing Raducanu with home comforts but also the chance to try out a rare spot of doubles with British number one Katie Boulter. "I'm quite nervous because I haven't played doubles and I haven't really practised doubles," Raducanu said."So I'm just, like, not really sure what to do, but I'm just going to hope that Katie tells me what to do. I'm good at taking directions. So, if someone just tells me what to do, I'll just try and execute as best I can."She has said she is "pretty chilled out" about the grass-court season which culminates with Wimbledon at the end of this month - a tournament where she first attracted attention with a run to the last 16 a couple of months before her US Open exploits."I don't necessarily want to be too amped up, too overhyped, but I'm just taking it as it comes really first," she all, she has bigger things to prove to others."I want to be a message and just an example of someone who has faced a lot of adversity, a lot of scrutiny, a lot of judgement and try and come out of that as best as I can," she said."And for anyone who's kind of been like dropped or had a lot of rejections to try and come out on the other side as best as possible. "It's something that I wouldn't say I've come out and done yet but I'm trying and I'm on the way to."
