Emma Raducanu’s run at the Italian Open came to an abrupt end courtesy of Coco Gauff.
The 22-year-old was enjoying the best run of her career in Rome after reaching the round of 16 for the first time.
Emma Raducanu was feeling confident about her game after winning two tough three-set matches and securing a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round.
But Coco Gauff proved too high a hurdle for the Brit to overcome as the American sailed into the quarter-finals with an emphatic win.
Emma Raducanu praises Coco Gauff’s performance after losing to her in Rome
Gauff and Raducanu played for just the second time in their careers at the Italian Open on Monday. This was their first meeting since Gauff claimed a 6-3 7-6(4) victory at the 2023 Australian Open.
Their clash at the Foro Italico was a more one-sided affair as Gauff won 6-1, 6-2 and became the youngest player to reach four quarterfinals in clay WTA 1000 events since the format began in 2009.
Raducanu struggled to make an impression, hitting just nine winners and committed 19 unforced errors during the contest.
Despite admitting to struggling with the conditions the former British number one praised the performance from Gauff, who has won her last six sets after losing the opening set in her first match.
“I found it a really difficult match. I think the conditions were very different from my last round. It was a different court and it was very bouncy. It was quite windy too,” Raducanu told Sky Sports.
“Coco also played a really good match and I definitely saw why she is number two in the world right now. She played really well. I definitely thought I got outplayed today but I guess I have no shame in saying that and I am looking forward to trying to work to get better. “
Emma Raducanu assesses her performances on clay so far
Before the 2025 clay court season, Raducanu had played just five matches on the surface since 2023.
She has already surpassed that tally this season after reaching the second round in Madrid and the fourth round in Rome.
The former US Open champion is working hard to improve her game on clay, and she is certainly making steps in the right direction.
“I think physically I held up pretty well over the last week. I had two long three set matches and I came out of them pretty good, so I am pretty proud of that,” she said.
“And also the way certain elements of my game were coming together with my serve and forehand better this week, I got a lot of success in the first three rounds.
“But in this match it was very difficult to get it in play as much with the ball bouncing really high and not as uniform conditions, so you are doubting yourself and the bounce.”
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