Emma Raducanu admits she "couldn't see the ball through the tears" during her distressing ordeal with a fixated fan at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 22-year-old was at the centre of global headlines after she halted play to seek refuge behind the umpire's chair while a member of the crowd was removed.
The man was later released by Dubai police without charges after agreeing to sign a document that ordered him to stay away from the young tennis star.
Set to begin her campaign at the Indian Wells event from Thursday, it has been reported that Raducanu has been offered up to five extra staff members to ensure she feels safe.
The former British No.1 has elected against any additional measures at the California-based event.
Emma Raducanu during practice ahead of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Getty
However, Raducanu was joined by two security guards as she reflected on the incident in her first interview since it unfolded just over a fortnight ago.
"I was obviously very distraught," Raducanu said.
"I saw him [in the] first game of the match, and I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to finish.'
"I was playing Karolina, who's top 17 in the world or something… (and) I can't see the ball. And I'm like, 'I literally need to just take a breather here,' and then the first four games kind of ran away from me.
"I was not on the court, to be honest, and I'm not really sure how I regrouped."
Raducanu revealed she had been approached by the unnamed man prior to the match when sitting alone in a cafe.
Emma Raducanu seeks refuge behind the umpire's chair during the incident in Dubai. Tennis Channel
According to her coach Roman Kelecic, the man had followed Raducanu through four WTA events that were held back-to-back before addressing her at the cafe, where he also handed her a letter.
"There were two instances, and it was the second one that I just got freaked out by," she said.
"The first one was more like a normal fan approaching you, except for the fact he told me he followed me from everywhere. And then [he] kind of watched me in the coffee shop for a while … the second incident was really worrying."
She went on to fall just short of victory in the round two match in Dubai, 7-6(6), 6-4.
But while the British star did concede that she broke down after leaving the court with a defeat, she was impressed with how she managed to push through such a situation.
"I think that was a pretty good effort for me to carry on playing in that match, in that scenario," she said.
"I finished the match and I even had chances in the first set but, yeah, it was a very emotional time.
"After the match, I did break down in tears, but not necessarily because I lost. It was more because there was just so much emotion in the last few weeks of events.
"I needed a week off to take a breather and come here and I feel a lot better."
Having stormed onto the professional circuit in style at such a young age, Raducanu has come by a number of enthusiastic supports across the world.
At the Australian Open, devoted fan Mark is known to sit front row and cheer wearing an 'Emma' shirt.
But the difference between Mark's and other supporters Raducanu has encountered is what she deemed to be the appropriate level of support.
"The thing with Mark, he's loud, he's there, he's front row, he's wearing an 'Emma' shirt," Raducanu replied.
"That guy is not like the one in the shadows, who is in the back or is gonna do something that's maybe a bit nerve-racking.
"It's more the hidden ones that I guess are scarier."