On Tuesday, a man was removed from the Dubai Tennis Championships for displaying “fixated behavior” towards British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu, as reported by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

The incident began on Monday when the individual approached Raducanu, 22, in a public setting, before reappearing in the front rows during her second-round match against Czech player Karolina Muchova on Tuesday, the WTA detailed.

Raducanu became visibly upset at the start of the match, approaching the umpire to discuss the situation, and subsequently sought refuge behind the umpire’s chair.

Following this, the man was escorted out of the match venue and has been temporarily banned from all WTA events while a threat assessment is conducted, according to WTA officials.

“The safety of our players is our highest priority, and we advise tournaments on best security practices for international sporting events,” the organization stated. “The WTA is working closely with Emma and her support team to ensure her well-being and to provide any necessary assistance.”

Additionally, the WTA emphasized their dedication to partnering with tournaments and security teams globally to create a safe environment for all athletes.

A representative from the Lawn Tennis Association, which oversees tennis in the U.K., mentioned via email that they maintain “comprehensive security measures” for their players that are regularly reviewed.

“This situation underscores the safety concerns that players, especially women, may encounter,” the spokesperson remarked. “We offer support for British players and have been in contact with Emma and her team following the incident in Dubai.”

This unsettling encounter is not Raducanu’s first experience with an overzealous fan. In 2022, a man was convicted of stalking Raducanu after visiting her home multiple times and leaving unwanted gifts, resulting in a five-year restraining order against him.

Raducanu catapulted to international fame when she secured the U.S. Open title in 2021 at just 18 years old. Since then, she has amassed over 2.5 million followers on Instagram and landed endorsements with luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co., Dior, and Porsche, and even attended the Met Gala.

Ultimately, Raducanu lost her match on Tuesday with a score of 7-6(6), 6-4. She is currently ranked 61st in the world for women’s singles by the WTA.