Raducanu Wins Italian Open Fourth Round, Faces Gauff in Rome

Emma Raducanu staged a remarkable comeback at the Italian Open, overcoming Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 to reach the fourth round, marking her first time winning three consecutive matches on clay. After losing a tight first set and facing a medical timeout from Kudermetova, Raducanu rebounded with a commanding display of clay-court tennis, demonstrating improved movement and variety in her shots, which has helped raise her ranking to No. 42. Raducanu’s resurgence has been attributed to both technical adjustments and a mindset shift under coach Mark Petchey, focusing on a more relaxed approach and instinctive play. Her next challenge is a highly anticipated match against Coco Gauff, who also advanced comfortably in Rome and has a strong record at the tournament. Raducanu’s victory is seen as a significant step in her career, signaling her growing comfort on clay and potential to reclaim the British No. 1 ranking if she defeats Gauff. The match highlighted Raducanu’s resilience and ability to capitalize on Kudermetova’s loss of rhythm due to a bad bounce and medical issue.