Coco Gauff may finally be hitting her stride again this year. After a rocky start to the season marked by inconsistency and early exits in the Australian hard-court swing, the Middle East swing, and the Sunshine Double, Coco looked quite shaky in Stuttgart as well where she had a QF exit. But Madrid sparked a resurgence: Gauff charged into the final, nearly toppling Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping clash. “first serve % was really low. When you’re playing someone as aggressive as Aryna, you def have to put more first serves in the court,” she later reflected. Now surging with confidence in Rome, Gauff sets her sights on Emma Raducanu. However, ahead of that clash, Coco didn’t hold back on praise for the Brit.
Emma Raducanu has rediscovered her form on clay after a difficult start to her 2025 season. Following a disappointing AO and three consecutive first-round losses, she regained momentum at the Miami Open, storming into the QF.
Though she faced a second-round exit in Madrid, her resurgence has truly come alive in Rome. Raducanu advanced to the R16 with an impressive comeback win over Veronika Kudermetova, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1. Meanwhile, Coco cruised into the last 16 with a straight-sets victory over Magda Linette. Now set to face Raducanu, Gauff acknowledged the challenge ahead, speaking highly of the Brit’s game.
Speaking to the Tennis Channel after her R32 win, Gauff shared her thoughts on her upcoming clash with Raducanu at the Italian Open. “She’s obviously a great player. And last time we played it was a tough match. And it’s going to be a different matchup on clay here,” she said, acknowledging the added challenge of facing Raducanu on a slower surface.
Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff will face each other in the 4th round of Rome.
Battle of the U.S. Open Champions.
Excited for this one. pic.twitter.com/x7DasmjOZt
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 11, 2025
Gauff didn’t shy away from praising her opponent, adding, “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 yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” Still, she backed herself with quiet confidence, adding, “And you know, hopefully I can come out with the win.”
Their last encounter came at the AO two years ago, where Gauff earned a gritty win in a much-anticipated second-round showdown. Under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, the American battled through to a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory. “I just told myself to hang in there towards the end. I thought the whole match was great,” Gauff said post-match back then. “I can imagine both of us were nervous, this was a long-anticipated match basically since the draw came out. So, I’m glad it was a good match.”
Raducanu, after her victory over Kudermetova, seemed surprised to learn she would face Gauff next and responded with poise when given the news by Sky Sports Tennis host Gigi Salmon. “She is a great competitor. I think I’m playing pretty good tennis right now and she is going to be a great test. 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,” Raducanu said.
If Raducanu wins against Gauff, she will reclaim the British No. 1 spot from Katie Boulter, an added incentive as she eyes a deep run in Rome. For both players, the match presents a crucial litmus test ahead of Roland-Garros.
Before this crucial encounter though, Coco Gauff ensured she had a blissful time with her biggest supporter on tour, her mom, on the Mother’s Day. Candi has been a constant presence through the highs and lows of Coco’s tennis journey and Coco never shies away from acknowledging that.
Coco Gauff celebrates Mother’s Day after her R32 victory in Rome
Coco Gauff shares a beautiful bond with her mother, Candi Gauff, and it’s often on full display. From sweet Valentine’s dinners to glitzy appearances like the 2025 Oscars, where Coco rocked a yellow gown, diamond earrings, and a stunning Rolex gold watch, while Candi shone in a glittering metallic dress, the duo is the ultimate mother-daughter goals.
Recently, on Mother’s Day, Coco posted the Oscars photo on IG, writing, “Happy mother’s day to my favorite date 🩷 I love you @candigauff.” Heart-melting, right? After her R32 win over Magda Linette in Rome, Coco spoke to Tennis Channel and admitted she hadn’t even had gelato in Italy yet. But Mother’s Day was on her mind. “I’m going to take her to dinner and get some flowers for her. My dad and my brothers already sent her flowers so I’m kind of slacking on that,” Coco joked. “And I had a match today, and she said the best gift was that if I could win. I did that, so anything else is extra,” she said.
Later that night, Candi posted a photo of their dinner outing on her IG Stories, writing “Dinner tonight” with a heart emoji. The Gauffs clearly find time for each other even during a packed tour schedule.
With Candi cheering courtside, can Coco power through to the Italian Open QFs, beating Emma Raducanu? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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