Emma Raducanu is through to the next round of the Italian Open and will play Coco Gauff in the Round of 16.
Raducanu took the victory over world number 12 Veronika Kudermetova in the third round, coming back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.
The Briton has made the Round of 16 at a tournament for the second time this season. Raducanu made the quarter-finals at the Miami Open where she was knocked out by Jessica Pegula.
Raducanu’s next opponent will be the toughest of her clay swing so far, as the world number three has impressed on the dirt this season, Gauff having made the final of the Madrid Open.
The former US Open champions will clash for the second time in their careers in the next round of the Italian Open. Raducanu gave her thoughts on the upcoming challenge after the match.
Emma Raducanu says Coco Gauff is going to be a ‘good test’ at the Italian Open
Speaking on her next opponent in Rome, Raducanu said: “She is a great competitor. I think I am playing pretty good tennis right now. But she is going to be a good test.”
“She has made the final of the French Open so she is great on this surface. I am just going to keep focused by savouring this one for now.”
Gauff and Raducanu have met just once before, with the American coming out on top.
They met in the second round of the Australian Open in 2023, where Gauff emerged victorious in straight sets 6-3, 7-6.
Emma Raducanu says she knew Veronika Kudermetova’s medical timeout was taken to throw her off
During the match, Kudermetova took a medical timeout towards the end of the second set, which Raducanu commented on following her win.
The 22-year-old said: “It was difficult, but luckily I was 5-0 up when she took the time out.”
“I kind of knew it was to throw me off! But at the same time I kept my cool and luckily I had a good cushion and from the third set I was really on it.”
“It’s hard after serving for the first set it doesn’t just slip your mind, you do refer back to it even if you are going into the third set so I am really happy with how I refocused.”
Raducanu is pursuing her second career title at the Italian Open, with her sole career trophy still the 2021 US Open championship.
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