DUBAI: The Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) has banned a man who exhibited `fixated behaviour` towards Emma Raducanu and was taken away by security personnel during the Briton`s match at the Dubai Championship late on Tuesday.

Former US Open champion Raducanu appeared to be in tears as she approached the umpire`s chair during the first set of her second-round match against Karolina Muchova.

The match was briefly halted after Raducanu spoke with the umpire, who quickly contacted tournament organisers.

The 22-year-old stood behind the official`s chair as the spectator was escorted away.

Raducanu fought back from 4-0 down to force a tiebreak before losing 7-6(6) 64.

`On Monday Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour,` the WTA said in a statement on Wednesday.

`This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma`s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.

`The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.

Tournament organisers said they had worked in collaboration with the WTA`s security team to identify and eject the individual.

`We support the WTA`s decision to ban the individual in question from all WTA events, and share the tour`s longstanding commitment to player welfare, safety and wellbeing,` they said in a statement.-Reuters