Wreathed by palm trees and basking in sunshine, cradled between the mountain ranges of San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and Little San Bernadino, Emma Raducanu is back in her happy place.
When she takes to the court against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on Thursday, the contrast in setting could not be greater to the gloom of a Dubai night match; the darkness of a stalker in the stands.
Indian Wells is one of those places where one cannot imagine anything bad happening but nothing is left to chance. Burly security guards and gun-totting sheriffs are here to make sure there is no fall from Tennis Paradise.
In Dubai, one of the reasons why the stalker was able to reach Raducanu’s court even though security teams were on the lookout is that only the stadium court there requires a ticket. The tournament grounds are part of a wider complex of bars and restaurants and for the outside courts – Raducanu played Muchova on Court 2 – anyone can wander in.
Such an arrangement is extremely rare for a tennis event and here in the desert only ticketed or accredited personnel are allowed on site. On the gates for press, players and staff, Indian Wells have airport-style scanners to automatically check accreditation, rather than having to rely on someone making sure each person is scanned in.
The Tennis Garden is a sprawling and open site. The whole vibe of the place is relaxed but the security is there all the same. Local company Legacy Protection provides the majority of the personnel but there are also Riverside County Sheriffs with pistols in their holsters.
Emma Raducanu is returning to action at Indian Wells after enduring her Dubai stalker ordeal
A stalker was able to reach Raducanu’s match in Dubai, leaving her in tears on court
Just weeks after her nightmare in Dubai, though, Raducanu is back in her happy place again
Players are escorted by security to and from their matches and practice courts. Walking the grounds on Tuesday it was noticeable how stridently the security guards shouted for the crowds to part to make way for a player.
The tours work with these teams on the ground to ensure player safety and the WTA’s security here in Indian Wells is being overseen by former secret service agent Bob Campbell.
WTA vice-president of security Campbell, who was not in Dubai, directs the local security teams where to position themselves around key access areas and which higher-profile players – that includes Raducanu this week – might require extra manpower.
Campbell has been with the WTA for 12 years. He is popular with the players: a cool, calm, unflustered figure who makes everyone feel safe and comfortable.
As a secret service agent he is understood to have spent much of his 20-year career working in the presidency of Bill Clinton. He then moved into baseball, with a year as director of security for the Washington Nationals and almost four as security manager for Major League Baseball.
When so much of his working life was spent looking after the most powerful man in the world, taking care of baseball and tennis players must feel like a walk in the park or, in this case, the desert.
Tournament officials are reluctant to discuss any special measures for Raducanu this week, but the extremely unusual presence of two security guards in an informal sit down we had with her on Tuesday tells its own story.
Tournament director Tommy Haas said: ‘I wouldn’t go into the details of if we went above and beyond for her personally but I’m glad to hear she’s feeling great.
Bob Campbell is understood to have served as a Secret Service agent under President Bill Clinton
British superstar Raducanu takes to the court against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on Thursday
‘Utmost and foremost, one of the most important issues for us is to make sure everybody feels safe when they come here.
‘We have a great team of people that are making sure of that security-wise. It’s something we don’t take lightly.’
Here at Indian Wells Raducanu is surrounded not only by security guards but by peers and friends, such as British No 1s Jack Draper and Katie Boulter. And she is at her favourite stop on the tour, a place where it feels very difficult not to be content.
‘I’ve seen her a few times and she seems really happy,’ said Boulter. ‘One of the first days here I bumped into her in a coffee shop. I haven’t had much chance to hang out with her but the times I’ve seen her, she’s been really happy.’
Boulter has had her own trouble with obsessive individuals in the past and was among the first to contact Raducanu after Dubai.
‘I reached out to her straight away when it happened,’ said the 28-year-old, who begins her own campaign on Friday after a bye. ‘I don’t like seeing anyone go through something like that so it’s nice to see her here and feeling good and ready to go.
‘It’s awful. It really is. As a friend, I can be there for her and I hope she’s got the best support she possibly can. It was tough to watch.
‘I can share some stories which have been reasonably similar but I’ve never had it on the level she has. I’ve had people on site saying they were going to harm me. It can make you feel quite isolated and I don’t wish that upon anyone. I just hope the security is great, which it has been. So I feel very comfortable.’
In Indian Wells Raducanu is surrounded by familiar faces, like British Men’s No 1 Jack Draper
Katie Boulter is also at the competition, and revealed she had seen Raducanu a few times
Draper, who plays on Saturday after a bye, has known Raducanu since their junior days. ‘I’ve checked in on Emma,’ said the 23-year-old. ‘We’re close friends from when we were young. She seems in great spirits.
‘It’s important she feels supported and safe. It’s difficult, especially in tennis, because a lot of people can access the grounds. It’s important both tours have good security and protection. This seems like a rare case but it was a tough week for Emma and I just hope she’s going to be alright, can get it out of her mind and move forward positively.’
Amidst all this, the question of how Raducanu actually performs on court feels close to irrelevant. Ordinarily she would be a favourite to get past world No 52 Uchijima, whom she beat handily in Seoul in 2022. But she had a week without any practice after Dubai so some ring rust is to be expected. There is also the question of how tranquil her mind can be as she returns to the court – will her subconscious have her scanning the crowd for an unwanted face?
She addressed that question on Tuesday, saying: ‘When I was in Dubai, I was very much aware of my surroundings.
‘Here I have tried to not look at all. That has helped me focus a lot more on the court, on the ball, and not let outside thoughts affect me as much. It’s been helping.
‘The fans here have been amazing but there is a little bit of, I guess, unease. I’m not necessarily signing everything or taking a photo with every person, even though I’d love to. I’m a bit unsure after what happened in Dubai.’
So let’s see how she goes. But after what she has been through, being back out there and talking about her ordeal with such honesty and courage is a victory in itself.