Emma Raducanu continued her strong showing at the 2025 Italian Open with an impressive comeback win over Veronika Kudermetova, booking her place in the fourth round and setting up a highly anticipated match against Coco Gauff.
The 2021 US Open champion battled back from a set down to defeat world No. 50 Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 in a match lasting two hours and 32 minutes on Rome’s Super Tennis Arena.
Raducanu, currently ranked No. 49, was on the verge of taking the opening set but faltered while serving at 5-4. She rebounded with dominance, overwhelming her Russian opponent in the final two sets.
Commentator and former British No. 1 Annabel Croft described Raducanu’s performance as “psychologically dismantling” her opponent, noting the mental edge Raducanu displayed.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu shared:
“The most satisfying part was how I handled the match after losing the first set. I didn’t let it slip away from me like I might have done in the past.”
She also highlighted tactical improvements in her game, particularly her use of different return positions and shot variety, noting:
“It’s something I’ve adopted recently and it’s been putting me in stronger positions early in points.”
This marks only her second appearance at the Italian Open after a first-round exit in 2022. With three wins under her belt this year in Rome, Raducanu has risen seven spots to No. 42 in the live WTA rankings.
Next up, she faces world No. 3 Coco Gauff in a last-16 showdown. The two have met once before, with Gauff defeating Raducanu in straight sets at the 2023 Australian Open.
Gauff earned her spot in the fourth round with a solid 7-5, 6-3 win over Magda Linette.
