Emma Raducanu revealed she has been channelling her inner Messi at the Italian Open, as she came from behind to set up a fourth-round showdown with Coco Gauff.
The 23-year-old, who beat Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1, has been making her pre-match warmups less serious and tennis-centric recently. Mini-trampoline game Spikeball was the go-to in Miami, so how about Rome?
‘I’ve been playing football,’ said Raducanu. ‘I’ve improved a lot, I’m actually beating the people in my team now. It’s really fun. I’ve discovered I’m left footed, which I take great pride in.’
Like Messi, Mail Sport suggests. ‘Exactly, just like Messi!’ she laughs.
These varied warmups are all part of the more relaxed mindset Raducanu has adopted since Miami. She has been exploring the city here on her days off. ‘I went to the Spanish Steps,’ she said. ‘Did some window shopping, got some inspiration I need a few more rounds of prize money, though!’
Only £56,000 has been banked so far but, after beating Kudermetova, Raducanu has now won three matches at a clay court event for the first time, and snapped a streak of 10 straight defeats when losing the first set.
Emma Raducanu produced a stunning comeback to win again at the Italian Open on Sunday
In beating Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova she has now won three matches at a clay court event for the first time
Raducanu will now take on world No 2 Coco Gauff (above) in the Italian Open’s fourth round
What a test now awaits against the mighty Gauff; what a test of Raducanu’s dirtballing credentials. She will rise from 49th in the world to at least 42nd after this run; take down Gauff and Raducanu will overtake Boulter as British No1.
Raducanu learned the identity of her opponent live on TV, when Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon asked her about the prospect of facing the American prodigy.
‘I hadn’t looked at the draw, are you sure I’m playing Coco?,’ laughed Raducanu.
Later, having had some time to reflect on Monday’s blockbuster fourth-round clash, she said: ‘It’s a great challenge, a great test to see how far I can go, what I can do.
‘It’s a pretty quick turnaround playing tomorrow but I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to have to play my game really well, have to execute.
‘She plays very well on clay, has made the final of the French so I know I’m going to have to bring my best level.’
The highlight of this victory over Kudermetova was the variety with which it was achieved, especially after a tough and tight first set.
Forehands spun deep and high, backhands cut low and short, from the second set onwards this was a pure display of patient clay court tennis. Raducanu made her opponent, a former world No9, look one-paced and unimaginative by comparison.
The Brit displayed superb versatility during the win, showcasing her range of strokes on clay
She will overtake Katie Boulter as Britain’s No 1 should she triumph against Gauff on Monday
Asked whether this kind of variety had been a part of her game from a young age, Raducanu replied: ‘No, not at all. Well, when I was younger, like when I was under nine, I was literally just hacking (pejorative tennis slang for chipping the ball back until one’s opponent makes an error).
‘And then through the under 12s and 14s, the LTA coaches are like, “You need to play more aggressive”. We had a certain quota of things to do. We had to hit one drive volley in the first game, had to hit like one winner in the first game.
‘I had to basically adopt, like, a more aggressive mindset. I think I got very boxed into a certain way of playing: I dominate, I’m an aggressive baseliner, but I think I have more tools at my disposal.
‘So in practice these days, I’ve just been kind of messing around with the ball and seeing what I can do. I’m exploring my creativity a bit more on the court.’
