Tennis is full of surprises—not just from intense competition but also from unexpected, lighthearted moments. The court usually falls silent as players prepare to serve, yet interruptions still happen. Remember when at the 2024 Halle Open semifinal, a sneeze during Jannik Sinner’s serve against Zhang Zhizhen sparked laughter from both the crowd and the world No. 1? Even animals like cats and birds have also made brief, memorable appearances on court. Similarly, Emma Raducanu has faced similar disruptions before, and history just repeated itself!

Currently competing on home soil against Ann Li at the Eastbourne International. Raducanu began her match strongly by meeting her opponent at each point. However, things took a turn during the first set at 4-4, when it was Raducanu’s turn to serve at 30-0.

Emma Raducanu’s next serve was hilariously interrupted when a seagull flew right across her eyeline. The crowd loved the comical moment, and both players shared a smile. Despite the distraction, Emma stayed composed and held serve to 15. The WTA jumped on the fun, posting the clip on Instagram with the caption, “Welcome to the seaside 🌊.” But this isn’t the first time a seagull has stolen the spotlight from Raducanu, right?

Flashback to the 2022 Australian Open, where Emma and Danka Kovinic had to pause their second-round match inside Margaret Court Arena because a seagull flew into the stadium. It was Emma’s Australian Open debut, and the tension was high. Kovinic couldn’t serve until the bird left, while the crowd chanted and enjoyed the unexpected break. Play resumed, but despite Emma’s fight to level the set, Kovinic held on to win.

That match was a rollercoaster. Emma Raducanu dropped the second set but showed grit, breaking back to level the score before Kovinic regained the lead. Emma pushed hard but couldn’t seal the win that day. Fast forward to the Eastbourne International, after a tough first-set tiebreaker, Raducanu lost the first set to Ann Li but clawed back to win and move on.

With moments like these, Raducanu’s matches are never dull. Whether it’s seagulls flying by or tough battles on court, she keeps us on our toes. Will she ride this momentum and serve up more surprises? Only time will tell!

With Wimbledon coming in close, let’s hope there aren’t any surprises that aren’t welcome for the Briton. Just earlier this week, officials at the All England Club prevented her stalker from buying tickets to the grass court major. But Raducanu is keeping her guard up and focusing on her game.

Emma Raducanu opens up about stalker situation

To catch you up, Raducanu’s Dubai Open clash with Karolina Muchova this February took a wild turn—tennis took a backseat as a “fixated” man kept approaching her, leaving her so shaken she hid behind the umpire’s chair in tears. “I couldn’t see the ball through tears,” she admitted. “I could barely breathe.” Muchova stepped up with support, the WTA acted fast, and the man was banned from future events.

Despite a warm welcome back from the crowd, Emma just missed out, losing 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. She later reflected on how tough it was without a full-time coach by her side—no steady presence when things went sideways. Now, with Nick Cavaday back in her corner, she’s feeling more secure: “I’ve definitely noticed a difference in how people are watching my back when I’m on the site,” she told BBC Sport. “I’m obviously wary when I go out… you only realize how much of a problem it is when you’re in that situation.”

Off the court, Emma’s settling in again. “I feel good. I feel pretty settled. I feel like I have good people around me,” she shared. But those negative headlines? They still sting. “When you see those negative headlines, especially, it is really hard. I’m someone who cares what people think and what people say. So it is not easy for me to deal with.”

After a strong showing at Queen’s Club, Emma’s back in action at Eastbourne, taking down Ann Li 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 and setting up a round of 16 clash with Maya Joint. Can she keep up the momentum? Let us hear your thoughts below!