Coco Gauff explains why she found it ‘awkward’ beating Emma Raducanu at Italian Open

Coco Gauff may have cruised into the next round of the Italian Open, but the post-match vibes were anything but smooth. The 20-year-old American dispatched Emma Raducanu in straight sets—but admitted afterwards that the victory felt a bit… awkward.

So what made this win weird? According to Gauff, it’s all about the off-court dynamic. “It’s always strange playing someone you know off the court,” she said. “Emma and I have trained together, talked a lot during tournaments. It’s not like we’re best friends, but we definitely have a rapport. So when you’re trying to crush someone you’ve joked around with in the player lounge, it’s just… a bit uncomfortable.”

And let’s not forget the hype factor. Raducanu’s rise since winning the US Open in 2021 has been one of the most watched stories in tennis, and Gauff—who knows a thing or two about being a teenage phenom herself—knows the pressure that comes with it. “I respect what she’s done. We’ve both been under the spotlight pretty young. That kind of shared experience adds another layer to matches like this.”

Still, despite the awkwardness, Gauff did what champions do: stay locked in and get the job done. Raducanu, for her part, was gracious in defeat and will be looking to rebuild her form heading into the summer hard court season.

Awkward or not, Coco’s through—and her title chase in Rome is just heating up.