Dark and dangerous shadow of stalking hovers over growth of women's sport

FILE PHOTO: Mar 6, 2025; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Emma Raducanu (GBR) hits a shot during her first round match against Moyuka Uchijima (not pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Well Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images/File Photo

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Emma Raducanu described being unable to see the ball through her tears after spotting a stalker at a match last month, and the image of the British tennis player taking refuge behind the umpire's chair encapsulated the darker side of women's sports.

On the eve of International Women's Day, women's sports are celebrating greater participation numbers and an unprecedented surge in popularity, but the rise of social media exposure and increased visibility have made women athletes more vulnerable than ever, experts say.