Emma Raducanu issued an apology to the chair umpire during her third-round match at the Italian Open after unintentionally breaking the rules.
The British star bounced back from a tight 7-5 first-set loss to Veronika Kudermetova, storming through the second set 6-0. However, immediately after leveling the match, Raducanu walked toward her coaching box — where her coach Mark Petchey and mentor Jane O’Donoghue were seated — to seek additional advice.
Under current rules, players may only receive coaching during specific pauses in play, such as a medical time-out. Although Raducanu had already taken advantage of a legitimate coaching opportunity earlier — while Kudermetova was off court for treatment at 5-0 — the umpire reminded her that further extended communication during a regular changeover was not allowed.
Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend narrated the moment live, saying:
“She went straight over to her coaching team, and the umpire said she needs to return to her seat. You can do that during a medical time-out, but not during a normal change of ends.”
Raducanu promptly returned to her bench and apologised to the umpire, clarifying the situation before preparing for the third set. The brief incident had no impact on her momentum, as she broke Kudermetova’s serve immediately after play resumed.
Petchey and O’Donoghue continued to provide encouragement from the box — allowed under WTA rules when players are on the same side of the court as their coaches — and Raducanu maintained her high level.
Kudermetova, the former world No. 9, managed to end Raducanu’s eight-game winning streak and got on the scoreboard at 2-1 in the decider. But the Russian continued to struggle physically after a back issue disrupted her rhythm earlier in the match.
Despite the rule infraction, Raducanu remained composed and focused, showcasing her evolving maturity and competitive edge.
