British tennis player Emma Raducanu hiding behind the umpire's chair after spotting a man who had "exhibited fixated behaviour" was a distressing scene.
It provided a stark reminder of the dangers faced by female athletes on a regular basis.
The man was detained by police following the incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday and given a restraining order.
"When you know it can get that far, that you feel a person is so obsessed with you, that they'll find a way into your court, it's very, very stressful," former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli told BBC Radio 5 Live.