Coco Gauff Defeats Emma Raducanu in Italian Open Round of 16

Coco Gauff secured a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Emma Raducanu in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Italian Open, demonstrating her improved form on clay and advancing to the quarter-finals. Gauff, who recently reached the final of the Madrid Open, used her powerful forehand and defensive skills to overwhelm Raducanu, who struggled to match Gauff's stamina and shot depth under challenging dry, windy conditions. This win marks Gauff's second career victory against Raducanu and solidifies her position near the top of the WTA rankings, as she now holds the second-most wins at the Italian Open before turning 22. Raducanu, ranked 49th, showed fighting spirit but ultimately could not counter Gauff's heavy topspin and court coverage, resulting in a fourth-round exit. Gauff's triumph ensures her return to a career-high ranking of world No. 2 and makes her the first American woman since Venus Williams in 2006 to reach three quarter-finals in Rome. Meanwhile, Raducanu gained ranking points from her performance but narrowly missed overtaking British No. 1 Katie Boulter.