Emma Raducanu one win away from a major milestone after latest Italian Open win

Kevin Palmer 11 May 2025 8:20 PM

Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff

Emma Raucanu was blissfully unaware that she will play Coco Gauff in her next match at the Italian Open after a fine 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 win against Veronika Kudermetova in Rome.

Raducanu served for the first set 5-4 up, but bounced back after losing the opener and she is now just one more victory away from overtaking Katie Boulter to start a second reign as the British No 1.

“For me, the best thing about today was recovering after losing the first set and having serve for it,” Raducanu told Sky Sports Tennis.

“I think I threw in a pretty poor game at 5-4 serving, but I felt under pressure on Veronika’s returns, she was literally red-lining everything and it was all going in and I was like ‘I don’t know where to serve’ and it’s not a nice feeling to have.

“I’m so happy with how I didn’t let the rest of the match get away with me. I think that’s a big progress compared to maybe the matches I played in the past.”

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Raducanu seemed surprised when she was informed by Sky Sports Tennis host Gigi Salmon that she would play fellow former US Open champion Coco Gauff in the last-16 in Rome and if she wins that match, she will usurp Katie Boulter to reclaim the title of British No 1 once again.

Boulter replaced Raducanu as British No 1 in the summer of 2023, but it may now be a matter of time before the 2021 US Open champion recaptures the title of the leading player in her nation.

“She loves return of serve and she times it so beautifully. She really feels confident. She really goes after it and nails it,” former British No 1 Annabel Croft told Sky Sports.

“She said she’s still working on the split-step which of course Andy Murray was such a genius at on his return of serve. One of the best we’ve ever seen in the game, alongside Novak Djokovic.

“There was a lot of variety in her game today. I think she competes so well.”

Raducanu and Gauff have only played one competitive match to date, with the British star losing against her slightly younger rival at the 2023 Australian Open.

The balance of power between the two may have shifted since that first meeting, with Raducanu relishing the challenge of facing Gauff.

“She’s a great competitor,” Raducanu said. “I’m playing pretty good tennis right now and she is going to be a great test, she’s made the French Open final so she’s great on this surface. I’m going to keep focused but savour this one for now.”

Raducanu’s imminent rankings milestone could be matched by a prize money breakthrough, as she is just in win away from secured $5million in career prize money.

She claimed $2.5million from her stunning US Open win in 2021 and has taken longer than expected to double that total over the last three-and-a-half years.

Now she is closing in on a prize money and rankings breakthrough and she will tick off both boxes if she beats Gauff in her next match in Rome.