Coco Gauff Keeps Clay Dream Alive with Dominant Win in Rome

Coco Gauff continues to make waves on clay, brushing aside Emma Raducanu with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory in Rome on Monday. At just 21, the American is now the youngest player to reach four WTA 1000 quarterfinals on clay since the tier was introduced in 2009.

Currently ranked world No. 3, Gauff is looking sharper with each match as the French Open looms. She’s won eight of her last nine matches on outdoor red clay, her only loss coming at the hands of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final.

Gauff said she’s feeling increasingly confident on the surface, particularly with her forehand, which she used to great effect against Raducanu. She noted that clay allows her to get creative with her shots, and she’s enjoying the control she’s been able to exert during rallies.

She also revealed she’s been putting in extra work on her footwork, something she believes is key to success on clay. It’s all part of her prep for Roland Garros, where she made the final in 2022 and the semis in 2023, both times falling to Iga Swiatek.

Up next, Gauff will take on world No. 7 Mirra Andreeva in the Italian Open quarterfinals on Wednesday. With her confidence growing and her game locked in, Gauff is looking more and more like a serious contender for Paris.