Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has voiced her support for Emma Raducanu and shared her own experience with stalking. The French former player won eight titles during her career—including Wimbledon 2013—and reached 11 other finals, including her runner-up finish against Venus Williams at the All England Club in 2007.
Recently, British player Emma Raducanu faced a stalking incident involving a man who displayed obsessive behaviour towards her. Raducanu had played only a few games against Karolina Muchova when she spotted the stalker in the stands and ran towards the chair umpire to seek shelter and ask for his removal.Raducanu’s stalker case reminds Bartoli of her own terrifying experience
The 22-year-old player hid behind the umpire’s chair while security escorted the man out of the stadium. He had reportedly followed Raducanu across multiple tournaments and had even approached her while she was dining alone at a restaurant the day before her match. The spectator was later arrested by the police, but Raducanu decided not to press charges.
Bartoli shares her own stalking experience
Former world No. 7 Marion Bartoli recently revealed that she also had to deal with a stalker during her career. The Frenchwoman shared that a fan repeatedly followed her throughout the summer of 2007 during the grass-court swing—the year she reached her first Major final at Wimbledon, losing to Venus Williams.
“Someone just followed me through the whole grass season in 2007,” Bartoli, who was also 22 at the time, recalled “I played Birmingham and Eastbourne and that person found a way to get into the grounds, behaving like a ball kid and a groundsman.”
“He found a way to purchase the same kit and get himself into my court as a groundsperson. And I sort of recognised him. It was from my first-round match against Flavia Pennetta,” she added. “I pointed out straight away to the All England Club and the organisation of the tournament to say that he was not a groundsperson, he was not working there."
The former world No. 7 remembered how the tournament organisers quickly took action to ensure her safety. “He was someone who had been stalking me for three weeks. And they found a way to get his identity and get rid of him and put his picture on all the entrances of the All England Club."
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“When you’re in that environment, it can feel very, very stressful. And I was very young back then. I was 22 years old as well, and I remember just getting on the court and saying to my dad, that person does not have the right to be on my courts.”
“That’s the only time I experienced it to that close degree, which I think is a bit similar to what Emma has experienced. Even though that guy didn’t insult me, he was really, really stalking me,” Marion Bartoli added. “I was extremely proud of Emma for continuing to play and willing to give it a go, and willing to try to fight as much as she could despite the circumstances.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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