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British tennis star Emma Raducanu has deleted her Instagram account, just weeks on from her stalker ordeal in Dubai.
Raducanu had boasted over three million fans on the social network, where she had kept her supporters updated on her progress.
The tournament had marked her return to competition after a stalker had appeared in the crowd for her match in Dubai just two weeks ago.
Raducanu had been left in tears after spotting the man, before being able to continue on her match at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 2021 US Open champion was ultimately beaten 7-6, 6-4 by the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova at the tournament.
I could barely breathe. I was playing Karolina, who’s top 17 in the world, and I can’t see the ball. And I’m like, I need to take a breather here. The first four games ran away from me because I was just not on the court. It was a pretty good effort for me to carry on playing.
‘After the match, I completely broke down in tears. There was just so much emotion. I needed a week off to take a breather. I feel a lot better.’
Raducanu had thanked fans for their support following the incident on Instagram.
Alongside a photo of the Jane Austen novel ‘Emma’ and a cup of coffee, Raducanu wrote last month: ‘Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match.
The stalker in Dubai, who had followed Raducanu across four countries, had initially approached her to give her a letter with his contact details and a photograph.
It was the first of two meetings in the city, before the man then showed up on her court.
Raducanu had been supported be extra tournament security at Indian Wells this month.
She admitted becoming ‘a lot more aware’ since the incident in Dubai and had been ‘pretty much chaperoned everywhere’ since.
Raducanu was beaten in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 by Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round at Indian Wells.
She is next expected to be in action at the Miami Open, with the the WTA 1000 event scheduled to begin next week.
Raducanu began working with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik on a trial basis at Indian Wells, with the partnership set to continue through to the French Open.
Platenik revealed he had previous turned down approaches to join Raducanu’s team, but believes the British star can now realise her potential after going ‘through hell’.
