Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu make feelings clear on playing each other in Rome
Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu have shared their thoughts on playing each other ahead of their intriguing matchup at the 2025 Italian Open.
The two former US Open champions will face off in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome on the Grand Stand Arena on Monday.
It will be the pair’s second meeting, with Gauff having won the first encounter 6-3, 7-6(4) in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open.
Fourth seed Gauff has defeated Victoria Mboko and Magda Linette en route to the last 16, while the unseeded Raducanu has overcome Maya Joint, Jil Teichmann and Veronika Kudermetova.
After her 7-5, 6-3 third round win against Magda Linette, Gauff looked ahead to her showdown with Raducanu.
“She’s obviously a great player and the last time we played, it was a tough match,” the world No 3 told Tennis Channel.
“It’s going to be a different matchup on clay here, but I think she has the game to be a great clay-court player.
“Obviously, a great player in general, but especially on clay. So it’s going to be a tough match and I’m looking forward to it and hopefully I can come out with the win.”
The 21-year-old American was also asked how she would grade herself on her performance against Linette.
“I don’t know, I would say probably like a B maybe, yeah I think I was playing the right way the whole match,” Gauff assessed.
“I think I could’ve got a little bit more depth in the first set, which I ended up doing in the second. Yeah, maybe even an A, honestly, because I lost to her in Miami, so it was good to get some revenge.”
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Raducanu discussed facing Gauff for the second time after beating Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 in the third round.
“She is a great competitor. I think I’m playing pretty good tennis right now and she is going to be a great test,” the 22-year-old Brit told Sky Sports.
“She’s made the final of the French Open and so she’s great on this surface. I’m just going to keep focused but savour this one for now.”
The world No 49 also spoke about the development of her clay-court game.
“I’m happy with the variety that I have with my shots,” Raducanu explained.
“I was able to return from two different positions up and back, which is new, and I think I adopted the back in the last two matches and it’s helped me just get into the point and put me into a better position on the fourth ball, but I still think I can be better out of the corners.”
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