Emma Raducanu battled through adversity to record her first ever three-match winning streak on clay, defeating Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 in the third round of the Italian Open at Rome’s Foro Italico. After narrowly dropping a fiercely contested opening set, the 21-year-old Briton regrouped spectacularly to dominate the remainder of the match, showcasing a blend of tactical ingenuity, mental resilience and shot-making maturity that has previously been elusive on red dirt. Her reward: a high-profile fourth-round showdown against fourth seed Coco Gauff, another rising star in the women’s game.
First Set Drama Sets Stage for Revival
Under the fierce Roman sun, Raducanu and Kudermetova immediately engaged in a power-baselining battle. Kudermetova, a former world top-10 player with a career-high No. 9 ranking in 2022, struck first with an aggressive forehand barrage that exploited Raducanu’s second serve. She seized an early break to lead 3-1, then served out service games with unerring precision—landing 83 percent of first serves and mixing in a handful of well-timed dropshots.
Despite serving strongly and fending off break points, Raducanu found herself precariously placed at 5-4 when she had the chance to level the set. Moments later, she double-faulted on a set point opportunity—her first significant lapse of the day—and watched Kudermetova pounce, converting her third break point to take the set 7-5.
The tight, high-quality first set lasted 51 minutes and featured 32 winners between the pair. Though Raducanu delivered 11 aces—her highest tally in a clay-court match—and saved four of five break points, she admitted afterwards that frustration had crept in. “I felt a little bit of desperation at the end of the set,” she said. “I know I played well, but I just let the nerves get the better of me at the key moment.”
Mid-Match Tactical Overhaul
The momentum shift arrived not through a sudden flurry of winners, but via Raducanu’s thoughtful recalibration. Recognising Kudermetova’s comfort in extended baseline rallies, she began to vary the pace and spin of her groundstrokes, incorporating higher-lofted top-spin balls that dipped late and pushed her opponent further behind the baseline.
Raducanu also looked to shorten points. Instead of lingering in long rallies, she selectively approached the net, using crisp approach shots to set up volleys. Her footwork—often criticized as tentative on clay—grew in confidence, with heavier steps enabling her to stay balanced through each stroke. The result was a whirlwind second set: Raducanu broke in the opening game, held serve emphatically, and raced to a 5-0 lead within 18 minutes.
An increasingly rattled Kudermetova requested a medical time-out trailing 0-5, seeking treatment for tightness in her left thigh. Although she briefly regrouped to hold serve for 1-5, Raducanu closed out the set 6-0 with two successive service winners, completing the bagel in just 23 minutes.
Sustained Dominance in Decisive Third Set
Entering the decider with supreme confidence, Raducanu maintained her aggressive game plan. She secured an early break at 1-1, rifling a forehand return winner deep into the corner. The British star continued to pepper the corners, mixing in occasional backhand slices that forced Kudermetova to hit up defensively.
At 3-1, Raducanu unleashed two blistering forehand passes on Kudermetova’s net approaches, signalling her readiness to seize closing opportunities. A fourth break followed, after which Raducanu accepted medical attention for mild cramping in her right shoulder—an indication of her punishing workload.
Despite the mid-match stoppage, Raducanu had too much left in the tank. She served out the match at 5-1, landing 78 percent of first serves in the final set and converting her second match point with a pinpoint backhand cross-court winner. The final scoreboard read 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 after two hours and ten minutes of play.
Statistical Highlights and Tactical Takeaways
• Serve: Raducanu hit 22 aces—her highest total for any match at a WTA 1000 event—and won 82 percent of first-serve points overall.
• Forehand: She totaled 35 forehand winners, often using the stroke to finish points inside the baseline.
• Unforced Errors: Despite 29 unforced errors, Raducanu’s aggressive margin-hitting did not cost her the match once she found her rhythm in sets two and three.
• Net Play: Her 11 of 18 success rate at the net underscored the value of forward movement on clay, a strategic adjustment that impressed her coach Torben Beltz.
Coach’s Perspective on Problem-Solving
“Emma showed real tennis IQ today,” Beltz remarked courtside. “After the first set, we talked about changing the ball trajectory and stepping in. On clay, variation is critical. She executed that plan perfectly.” The emphasis on variety and positive aggression aligns with Raducanu’s stated goal at the start of the tournament: to play attacking tennis and build clay-court comfort through match play.
Clay-Court Milestone: First Three-Match Win Streak on Red Dirt
This victory marked Raducanu’s first three-match winning streak on clay at tour level. Previously, she had struggled to string consecutive wins on the surface, often bowing out early in tournaments. Her earlier wins in Rome came against teenage qualifier Maya Joint—an epic late-night 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 thriller—and Jil Teichmann, whom she dispatched 6-2, 6-1.
Re–Entry into the Top 40 and British No 1 Implications
Raducanu’s performance in Rome has propelled her ranking from No 53 to No 42 in the live WTA standings—just two spots shy of reclaiming her status as Britain’s top-ranked woman. The incremental climb is a testament to her growing consistency; she has now earned 240 ranking points at a WTA 1000 event, overshadowing her earlier struggles on the clay swing.
Looking Ahead: Fourth-Round Clash with Coco Gauff
On Monday, Raducanu will face American fourth seed Coco Gauff, fresh off a ruthless 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Marta Kostyuk. Gauff, ranked No 7 globally, has won three titles this season and is a former junior world No 1 who reached the US Open final in 2023. Their head-to-head record favors Gauff 2-0, but both past encounters were on hard courts; this will be their first meeting on clay and at a WTA 1000 level.
Key Factors for the Next Match
• Serve Under Pressure: Raducanu must maintain her high ace count while protecting her second serve, especially against Gauff’s aggressive return.
• Forehand Exchanges: Gauff thrives on deep, penetrating rallies; Raducanu will need to match pace and avoid error-prone double-faults at critical junctures.
• Mental Fortitude: Raducanu’s composure to rebound from first-set letdowns will be tested anew; a repeat of her mid-match problem-solving will be essential.
• Footwork and Movement: Both players excel at retrieving balls, so foot speed and recovery between shots will decide who dictates rallies.
Expert Commentary: Voices from the Tour
Former WTA top-20 player Laura Robson commented on Sky Sports, “Emma’s ability to adapt her game mid-match is really maturing. On clay, you can’t just out-power opponents; you need a tactical toolkit. She showed that brilliantly today.” Meanwhile, Italian tennis journalist Paolo Taglioli praised the match atmosphere: “The crowd appreciated the high-octane quality. Emma earned respect on clay tonight.”
Implications for the French Open and Beyond
Raducanu’s run in Rome carries significance for the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros, where she last competed in 2022 but exited in the first round. Building clay-court confidence and earning match-play miles against top-30 opponents are critical steps toward a deeper Grand Slam showing. A victory over Gauff would thrust Raducanu into her first WTA 1000 quarter-final on clay, further solidifying her resurgence and signaling her readiness to challenge the game’s elite on all surfaces.
Media and Fan Reactions
Social media buzzed with praise for Raducanu’s comeback. #EMMAWIN and #Goducanu trended on X after the match, with fans sharing GIFs of her forehand winners and emotional fist pumps. British tennis legend Annabel Croft tweeted, “Such a joy to watch Emma grow—today’s win shows she belongs among the great clay-court hitters.” Meanwhile, Rome’s Foro Italico echoed with chants of “Emma! Emma!” as she celebrated courtside with her team.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment on Clay
Emma Raducanu’s 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Veronika Kudermetova stands as a watershed in her clay-court evolution. By overturning an agonizing first-set loss through tactical variation and unwavering belief, she not only advanced to the Italian Open’s fourth round but also announced herself as a formidable clay-court competitor. Her next test against Coco Gauff will offer a clearer gauge of her potential to translate this form into Grand Slam success. For now, Raducanu can savor a hard-earned victory in Rome—one that underscores her resilience, adaptability and growing mastery of the sport’s slowest surface.
