Stalking in Tennis Highlights a Safety Crisis

An editorial look at how parasocial pressure and security shape tennis from the Seles era to today

Stalking in Tennis Highlights a Safety Crisis

Tennis has a long history of fixated fans turning intrusive or violent. The most infamous case is the 1993 Hamburg stabbing of Monica Seles, an incident that reshaped how tournaments guard players and how fans understand access. Decades on, stars such as Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have faced new forms of attention that cross lines, from stalking letters to encounters at practice spaces. The sport's blend of high visibility, frequent public appearances, and close proximity to fans makes this a persistent risk, even as fame expands.

Security teams have expanded in response. The sport now uses dedicated safeguarding roles, threat monitoring, and more intensive protections at major events. Yet resources vary by tournament, leaving smaller events more exposed. That openness with fans helps build a loyal following, but it can blur boundaries between admiration and fixation.

Editorial take: Tennis reveals how parasocial bonds operate in a high frequency, highly public sport. When fans feel they know a player personally, boundaries shrink and security must work harder without erasing the thrill of live attendance.

Policy shifts show progress: safeguarding roles and cross sport threat matrices move from reactive to preventive. The challenge remains funding and consistent protection across events while protecting players' privacy and the sport's welcoming culture. As long as fame fuels tennis, security must be built in, not bolted on after incidents.

Highlights

The sport will grow safer if protection keeps pace with its openness.