On May 11, 2025, the Foro Italico in Rome erupted with excitement as Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, delivered a thrilling 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 comeback victory over Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova to reach the Round of 16 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The 22-year-old Briton’s performance was a masterclass in resilience, but it was her lighthearted reaction during a post-match interview that stole the spotlight. When Sky Sports presenter Gigi Salmon informed her of her next opponent, world No. 3 Coco Gauff, Raducanu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I haven’t looked at the draw to be honest, but yeah, she’s a great competitor. Are you sure I’m playing Coco?” she asked with a laugh, prompting giggles from the crew. The charming moment, coupled with her on-court heroics, has fans buzzing for the blockbuster fourth-round showdown set for May 12.
A Gritty Comeback
Raducanu’s journey to the Round of 16 was far from straightforward. Facing Kudermetova, a former top-10 player, she surged to a 5-4 lead in the first set and served for the match, only to falter under pressure. “I think I threw in a pretty poor game at 5-4 serving, but I felt under pressure on Veronika’s returns,” Raducanu admitted. “She was literally red-lining everything, and it was all going in, and I was like, ‘I don’t know where to serve.’” Kudermetova capitalized, winning three straight games to claim the set 7-5. Undeterred, Raducanu regrouped, unleashing a barrage of winners—35 in total—and dominating the final two sets, winning 12 of the last 13 games. “The best thing for me was recovering after losing the first set having served for it,” she told Sky Sports. “I’m so happy that I didn’t let the rest of the match get away from me.”
Rising to the Challenge
The match, which lasted over two and a half hours, showcased Raducanu’s growing comfort on clay. Her eight wins in her last ten matches, including victories over Maya Joint (7-5, 6-7, 6-3) and Jil Teichmann (6-2, 6-2) earlier in Rome, have propelled her to No. 42 in the live rankings. A suspected gamesmanship tactic by Kudermetova, who took a lengthy medical timeout for her hip or lower back while trailing 5-0 in the second set, failed to derail Raducanu’s focus. “I kind of knew it was to try and throw me off, but I kept my cool,” she chuckled, referencing her commanding lead. Her forehand, which produced eight breaks of serve, and improved return positioning were pivotal, as she noted: “I was able to return from two different positions, up and back, which is new.”
A Formidable Foe Awaits
Now, Raducanu faces a daunting challenge against Gauff, the 21-year-old American who dispatched Poland’s Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3 to advance. Gauff, a former French Open finalist with a 73.1% service game win rate on clay over the past year, holds a 1-0 head-to-head edge, having defeated Raducanu 6-3, 7-6(4) at the 2023 Australian Open. “I think I’m playing pretty good tennis right now, and she is going to be a great test,” Raducanu said, acknowledging Gauff’s clay court prowess. “She’s made the final of the French Open, so she’s great on this surface.” Gauff’s season, marked by 21 wins and a title in Australia, includes a recent Madrid Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka, underscoring her status as a favorite with -375 odds to win the match.
A Blockbuster Showdown
The Grand Stand Arena clash, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time, pits two US Open champions against each other, with Gauff’s experience on clay—highlighted by four Rome Round of 16 appearances before age 22—contrasting Raducanu’s newfound clay confidence. Raducanu’s mentor, Jane O’Donoghue, and coach Mark Petchey watched her Kudermetova triumph, signaling a stable support system as she navigates this high-stakes moment. With Iga Swiatek’s early exit, the Rome draw is wide open, and a victory could propel either player toward a deep run, with Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk looming as potential quarterfinal foes. Raducanu’s playful query—“Are you sure it’s Coco?”—belies her fierce determination, setting the stage for a match that promises drama, skill, and a test of both players’ mettle as they eye the French Open.
“Are you sure I’m playing Coco?” 😅
Emma Raducanu finds out that she’s playing Coco Gauff in the next round live on-air 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1ej6R6kewt
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 11, 2025
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