Wrapped by palm trees and sunbathing, cradled between the mountain range of San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and Little San Bernadino, Emma Raducanu is back in her happy place.
When he takes the Court against Moyuka Uchijima of Japan on Thursday, the contrast in the environment could not be greater for the gloom of a Dubai night party; The darkness of a stalker in the stands.
Indian Wells is one of those places where one cannot imagine that anything bad happens, but nothing is left to chance. Security guards and firearms sheriffs are here to ensure that there is no fall in tennis paradise.
In Dubai, one of the reasons why the stalker was able to reach the Raducanu court despite the fact that the security teams were attentive is that only the stadium court requires a ticket. The lands of the tournament are part of a broader complex of bars and restaurants and for the external courts: Raducanu played very much on court 2 – Anyone can wander.
Such agreement is extremely rare for a tennis event and here only the ticket staff is allowed or accredited on the site. On the doors for the press, players and staff, Indian wells have airport -style scanners to automatically verify accreditation, instead of having to trust someone to make sure that each person be scanned.
The tennis garden is an expanding and open site. The whole environment of the place is relaxed, but security is anyway. Legacy Protection of the local company provides the majority of the staff, but there are also Sheriffs of the Riverside Gun County on its covers.
Emma Raducanu returns to action at Indian Wells after supporting her Dubai stalker test
A stalker could reach Raducanu's game in Dubai, leaving her crying in court
However, only a few weeks after his nightmare in Dubai, Raducanu is back in his happy place again
The players are escorted for security to and from their games and practice courts. Walking along the land on Tuesday, the stridently was notable that the security guards shouted that the crowds were separated to give way to a player.
The tours work with these teams on the ground to guarantee the safety of the players and the safety of the WTA here in Indian Wells is being supervised by the former Secret Service agent Bob Campbell.
The vice president of the WTA of Security Campbell, who was not in Dubai, directs local security equipment to position themselves around key access areas and that the largest profile players, which include Raducanu this week, may require additional labor.
Campbell has been with the WTA for 12 years. It is popular among the players: a great, quiet and no flusus figure that makes everyone feel safe and comfortable.
As an agent of the Secret Service, it is understood that much of his 20 -year career has passed working in the presidency of Bill Clinton. Then he moved to baseball, with one year as Security Director for Washington Nationals and almost four as Security Manager for Major Baseball Leagues.
When much of his working life is spent taking care of the most powerful man in the world, taking care of baseball and tennis players should feel like a walk through the park or, in this case, the desert.
The tournament officials are reluctant to discuss any special measure for Raducanu this week, but the extremely unusual presence of two security guards in an informal sitting that we had with it on Tuesday tells its own story.
The director of the tournament, Tommy Haas, said: “I would not go into the details of whether I went to her personally, but I am glad to know that she feels great.”
It is understood that Bob Campbell has served as a secret service agent under President Bill Clinton
British Raducanu superstar takes the Court against Moyuka Uchijima from Japan on Thursday
'Most and more importantly, one of the most important issues for us is to make sure everyone feels safe when they come here.
'We have a great team of people who ensure that security. It is something we don't take light.
Here in Indian Wells Raducanu is surrounded not only by security guards but also by colleagues and friends, such as the British Jack Draper and Katie Boulter. And she is at her favorite stop on the tour, a place where she feels very difficult not happy.
“I've seen her several times and seems very happy,” Boulter said. 'One of the first days here I came across her in a cafeteria. I have not had many possibilities to hang out with her, but the times I've seen her, she has been very happy.
Boulter has had his own problems with obsessive people in the past and was one of the first to contact Raducanu after Dubai.
“I communicated with her immediately when it happened,” said the 28 -year -old, who starts her own campaign on Friday after goodbye. 'I don't like to see anyone go through something like that, so it is good to see her here and feel good and ready to leave.
'It's horrible. It really is. As a friend, I can be there for her and I hope you have the best support you can. It was difficult to see.
'I can share some stories that have been reasonably similar, but I have never had them at the level it has. I have had people on the site saying that they were going to hurt me. It can make you feel quite isolated and I don't want that about anyone. I just hope that security is excellent, what has been. So I feel very comfortable.
Draper, who plays on Saturday after goodbye, meets Raducanu since his Junior days. “I have registered in Emma,” said the 23 -year -old. 'We are close friends of when we were young. She seems to be in a good mood.
'It is important that you feel supported and safe. It is difficult, especially in tennis, because many people can access the land. It is important that both tours have good security and protection. This seems like a rare case, but it was a difficult week for Emma and I just hope it is fine, I can get it out of your mind and move positively.
In the midst of all this, the question of how Raducanu really works in court feels about irrelevant. In general, it would be one of the favorites to spend the world No. 52 Uchijima, whom he easily won in Seoul in 2022. But he had a week without practice after Dubai, so he is waiting for some oxide. There is also the question of how quiet your mind can be when you return to court: will your subconscious make it scan to the crowd for an unwanted face?
He went to that question on Tuesday, saying: 'When I was in Dubai, I was very aware of my surroundings.
'Here I have tried not to look at all. That has helped me concentrate much more on the court, on the ball, and not letting external thoughts affect me so much. He has been helping.
'Fans here have been incredible, but I suppose there is a bit of restlessness. I am not necessarily signing everything or taking a photo with each person, although I would love it. I am a little insecure after what happened in Dubai.
So let's see how it goes. But after what has happened, being back and talking about his terrible experience with such honesty and courage is a victory in itself.