Emma Raducanu says she is in a constructive headspace with Roland Garros across the nook and doesn’t need to “hide in a hole somewhere” after shedding comfortably to Coco Gauff on the Italian Open.
Raducanu was comprehensively overwhelmed on Monday because the Gauff superior to the quarter-finals in Rome in an hour and 20 minutes.
The match was doubtlessly Raducanu’s closing aggressive motion earlier than the French Open, which will get below method on Could 25.
Whereas the straight-sets loss served a reminder for Raducanu of how a lot floor there may be to make up on the gamers on the high of the world rankings, she walked away from the encounter targeted on the positives, suggesting she may nonetheless compete at subsequent week’s Internationaux de Strasbourg.
“I would love to just keep improving, keep playing. I think that’s a positive for me,” Raducanu advised Sky Sports activities.
“I do not need to go and conceal in a gap someplace, I need to get again on the market, in order that’s good.
“We’ll see how it goes in the next week before the French, if I get into Strasbourg. But, for now, I’ve played a good 12 days on the trot, so I’m looking forward a day off or so and then getting back to it.”
Raducanu credited her promising exhibiting in Rome to taking part in with enjoyment, insisting that she was nonetheless searching for to “win the day” regardless of the loss to Gauff.
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Highlights of the Italian Open match between Emma Raducanu and Veronika Kudermetova
” It makes it more enjoyable, it makes it more sustainable. It doesn’t make the losses feel as bad, because I just know that every day I’m trying to be the best version of myself, I’m trying to win the day and I’ve kind of gone back to that,” she mentioned.
“I didn’t win on the match court today but I’m going to find a way to win the day still today.
“It was a tricky day within the workplace. I simply should take loads of positives. I get out extra, I’m having fun with myself and taking it in wherever I’m going, as a result of it’s powerful on the street. So, I believe simply looking for small pockets of the day, small glimmers, to make it extra fulfilling.”
Henman: Raducanu’s recreation transferring in proper route
Sky Sports activities Tennis pundit Tim Henman believed the match was tighter than the ultimate scoreline recommended and that the match on the entire has been progressive for Raducanu.
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Emma Raducanu says nothing is formal with coach Mark Petchey and is taking over a ‘much less is extra’ strategy to the 2025 WTA season
He mentioned: “When you reflect on the score, it looks very straightforward, but I think there were a couple of really long games, but on each of those occasions it was Gauff who found a way to come through.
“It wasn’t the consequence or efficiency Raducanu was in search of. She did not have the alternatives to dictate as a result of Gauff was hitting so aggressively from the again of the courtroom.
“But when you reflect on Raducanu’s clay-court season so far, it’s been very positive. The clay courts at Roland Garros are the trust, the best, they will suit Emma even more.
“Her recreation is transferring in the correct route, she’s as much as 42 within the reside rankings. A quantity at the back of my thoughts is 32 – can she be seeded pre-Wimbledon and get that safety within the early rounds on grass?”
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