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Emma Raducanu lost the first set to Veronika Kudermetova, before bouncing back to reach the next round of the Italian Open - Reuters/Aleksandra Szmigiel
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Emma Raducanu was able to laugh about her opponent’s lengthy medical time-out after coming back from a set down to overwhelm Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova.
“I kind of knew it was to try and throw me off, but I kept my cool,” Raducanu chuckled, as she spoke to Sky Sports after her bizarre but increasingly impressive 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 victory.
“Luckily I had a good cushion,” she added, referring to the 5-0 lead that she held in the second set at the time of the interruption. “I served it out, and then from the third set, I was really on it.”
Kudermetova left the court for seven or eight minutes to have medical treatment, interrupting play during a period when her game had completely evaporated. She seemed to be pointing to her hip or lower back, but whatever was bothering her, it did not seem to be an issue in the decider.
Each set had its own narrative and they were all distinct. The first was an excellent and entertaining arm-wrestle in which Raducanu botched an opportunity to serve it out at 5-4.
The second was an absolute shocker, in which Raducanu did not play her best but did not have to as Kudermetova imploded in a welter of unforced errors.
The spur seemed to be a bad bounce that derailed Kudermetova’s confidence and rhythm when she was 40-15 up on serve in the opening game. This is a temporary court, set up for the duration of the tournament, and Danish star Holger Rune has already complained about the indifferent quality of the surface.
After the medical time-out, Kudermetova tried to lift again, and found an intermediate level: better than her second-set form, yet not as good as she had been initially.
Meanwhile, Raducanu suddenly found her best rhythm on her forehand. Her racket-head speed through the ball was noticeably higher as she spread the court in classic clay-court style, hitting crosscourt to force Kudermetova wide before landing the decisive blow up the line.
Such shot-making will be needed in round four if she is to trouble Coco Gauff, the fourth seed, who particularly enjoys playing on this surface. And Raducanu will also need to be more consistent on her first serve, which went walkabout in the middle of this match. Nevertheless, her competitive instincts shone out in what was, overall, another excellent win.
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Raducanu’s ability to find all corners of the clay court is improving match by match - Getty Images/Clive Mason
“I threw in a pretty poor game at 5-4 serving,” said Raducanu, in relation to the first set. “But I thought Veronica’s returns … I mean, she was literally red-lining everything, and it was all going in. And I was like, ‘I don’t know where to serve,’ and it’s not a nice feeling to have. I’m happy with how I didn’t let the rest of the match get away with me. I think that’s big progress compared to maybe the matches I played in the past.”
As to her growing comfort on the clay, Raducanu said “I’m happy with the variety that I have on my shots. I’m able to return from two different positions, up and back, which is new.
“But I still think I can be better out of the corners. Sometimes I feel a bit caught out still on my split-step [preparatory footwork for a service return].
“[But] I think I’m playing pretty good tennis right now. And she [Gauff] is going to be a great test. She’s made the final of the French Open, so she’s great on this surface. I’m just gonna keep keep focused, but savour this one for now.”
While Raducanu should climb a couple of places in the rankings after her three wins in Rome, her gains will not take her back into the top 30 quite yet. A seeding at the French Open still looks optimistic, as she would probably need to reach the final in a half of the draw that also includes world No1 Aryna Sabalenka.
02:50 PM BST
Raducanu double-checking
02:37 PM BST
Raducanu will face Coco Gauff next
02:33 PM BST
Raducanu takes the third set and the match!
Kudermetova goes long with a forehand to start things off. Raducanu then gets to 0-30 after putting away short forehand-cross..
The Russian then goes wide with another forehand to give Raducanu three match points.
First one is saved as Kudermetova hits a backhand winner down the line. Second is saved as Raducanu sprays a return wide but the Briton wins the next point with a forehand winner!
Brilliant two sets from the Briton!
02:26 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-7, 6-0, 5-1 Kudermetova
Raducanu falls 0-15 behind but levels up as Kudermetova goes long with a forehand return on the next point.
A good forehand-cross sets things up nicely for Raducanu who gets to 40-5 after a good first serve... and the Briton holds.
She is a game away now from the round of 16.
02:21 PM BST
Raducanu 5-7, 6-0, 4-1 Kudermetova*
Kudermetova puts away a smash to go 15-0 up. The Russian then gets to 30-0 with a clean backhand winner down the line.
Raducanu then hits a clean forehand winner to go 15-30 and then gets to 30-30 after another Kudermetova error. The Briton then gets to 30-40 after a nice passing shot... and the Briton breaks again!
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Well, the match has been a weird one but one thing we can say is that Raducanu’s forehand has come to the party in this deciding set. She’s really got some racket-head speed going and she’s using it to shape the rallies, pushing Kudermetova wide in the crosscourt exchanges than hitting up the line. Oddly, that’s exactly what Kudermetova was doing to her in set one.
02:16 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-7, 6-0, 3-1 Kudermetova
Kudermetova nets a return off a Raducanu second serve, the Briton then goes 30-0 up as the Russian sprays a backhand wide.
A forehand winner down the line brings up three game points for Raducanu and then a rare loose shot from the Briton sees Kudermetova get on the board. But Raducanu does eventually hold to 15.
02:11 PM BST
Raducanu 5-7, 6-0, 2-1 Kudermetova*
Kudermetova wins the opening point and lets out a loud “Come on!”
Raducanu levels at 15-15 after hanging in a rally that Kudermetova looked to be in control of. The Russian then puts away second overhead after not doing enough with the first, to go 30-15 ahead before winning the next point to bring up two game points.
The Briton then hits a quality forehand to go 40-30 but Kudermetova holds and finally wins a game after losing eight in a row.
02:06 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-7, 6-0, 2-0 Kudermetova
Kudermetova goes long with a forehand before Raducanu double faults to go 15-15. The Russian then nets a forehand that nearly snuck over, but for a net cord, to fall 30-15 behind. Raducanu gets to 40-15 and holds as Kudermetova nets a backhand return.
That is eight games in a row now for the Briton.
02:02 PM BST
Third set: Raducanu 5-7, 6-0, 1-0 Kudermetova*
Raducanu, out of the blocks quickly, races to 0-30 before Kudermetova steadies the ship after a good first serve sets up the point nicely for the Russian.
The Briton comes out on top after another long exchange to get to two game points and the Briton breaks with an incredible return winner!
Raducanu has won seven games in a row now!
Spectacular from Raducanu
She claims SEVEN games in row pic.twitter.com/VbnL7ZtLoL
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 11, 2025
01:55 PM BST
Bizarre set all round
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A bizarre set all round. Certainly not one to strike fear into Coco Gauff, the next opponent for whoever progresses. That last game was club level, really. It’s not easy when your opponent goes off the court for ages, but Raducanu is getting dragged down to Kudermetova’s evaporating level. And that first serve, so impressive in the first five sets she had played in this tournament, is now malfunctioning dramatically.
01:54 PM BST
Raducanu wins the second set 6-0!
Raducanu wins the opening point after Kudermetova goes long with a return. The Russian takes the next point before Raducanu gets to 30-15 after another error from the Russian’s racket.
Kudermetova then goes long with a return to give Raducanu two game points. The Briton then double faults to go 40-30 and then goes long with a forehand as Kudermetova gets to deuce.
Briton gets to advantage after a long exchange from the baseline. Set point. And the Briton holds and takes this second set!
01:43 PM BST
Match ebbing and flowing
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The first set felt like a really high-quality battle. The second absolutely doesn’t. Kudermetova is a shadow of her earlier self, while Raducanu’s first serve has gone walkabout and she is making fewer than one in three.
Promising signs for Raducanu at 5-0 … especially now that the trainer has come on and Kudermetova is complaining about something. Her hip, perhaps? This set is probably a done deal, but after the ebbs and flows to date, you wouldn’t put it past Kudermetova to bounce back again in the decider.
01:40 PM BST
MTO for Kudermetova
Kudermetova is taking a medical timeout and will leave the court.
MTO’s are officially three minutes in duration.
01:38 PM BST
Raducanu 5-7, 5-0 Kudermetova*
Raducanu eats up a Kudermetova first delivery to go 0-15 ahead and then gets to 0-30 as the Russian nets a forehand from the baseline.
Kudermetova then sprays a backhand wide to give Raducanu three more break points. First one is saved after a Raducanu error but the Briton takes it on the second.
01:34 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-7, 4-0 Kudermetova
Raducanu, a double break up, drops the opening point. Kudermetova then wins the next two points, the last one with a winner at the net before Raducanu levels things up at 30-30.
After dealing with a couple of loopy Kudermetova ground strokes, Raducanu hits a lovely backhand down the line for a clean winner. Kudermetova gets to deuce and then advantage after taking on the Raducanu serve.
Another backhand winner from Raducanu saves break point and then gets to advantage after another Kudermetova error and the Briton holds.
01:24 PM BST
Raducanu 5-7, 3-0 Kudermetova*
Raducanu races to 0-30 after finishing the last point with cute drop shot. Kudermetova gets on the board after positive attacking point.
A big forehand down the line sees Raducanu get to 15-40 but Kudermetova wins the next point with an overhead. Still, break point Raducanu. The Briton breaks again to go 3-0 up in this second set.
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Three poor games there from Kudermetova, who lost composure after missing an easy kill at 0-0, 30-15. Interestingly, she seemed to get a bad bounce, just after the Sky Sports team had been talking about the indifferent quality of the clay on this court.
01:18 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-7, 2-0 Kudermetova
A couple of wayward errors from Kudermetova sees Raducanu get to 30-0. Kudermetova then gets on the board after a Raducanu error.
The Russian then goes long with a backhand down the line to bring up two game points for the Briton. Kudermetova saves the first as Raducanu goes long with a forehand on the stretch, but Raducanu holds after a wild return from Kudermetova.
01:13 PM BST
Second set: Raducanu 5-7, 1-0 Kudermetova*
Raducanu wins the opening point before going long from the baseline as Kudermetova gets to 15-15. The Russian then goes 30-15 ahead after another Raducanu error.
The Briton then nets a forehand after an extended rally that brings up two game points for Kudermetova, before the Russian hits a short forehand out after a dodgy bounce.
Raducanu gets to deuce as Kudermetova goes long and then advantage as the Russian nets a short ball... and Raducanu immediately breaks to get things started in this second set.
01:06 PM BST
Raducanu’s second serve exploited
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Well, but for those two outstanding games that Raducanu produced to go 5-4 up, Kudermetova was the better player. The key statistic relates to Raducanu’s second serve, which is getting absolutely destroyed. Two points won and 12 lost.
01:03 PM BST
Kudermetova wins the first set 7-5!
Kudermetova, again, races to 0-30 lead before hitting a loose ball from the baseline which gets Raducanu on the board.
The Briton levels things up with a big forehand to the Kudermetova backhand but the Russian wins the next point to bring up set point.
Raducanu nets a forehand which sees Kudermetova take this first set!
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01:00 PM BST
Both players showing signs of tightness
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Those two great games from Raducanu were followed by a shocking service game! Both players have been showing signs of tightness when they’re in a potentially winning position.
12:57 PM BST
Raducanu 5-6 Kudermetova*
Raducanu cracks a forehand down the line to end an extended exchange. The Briton then goes long from the baseline as Kudermetova gets to 15-15. Ace down the T gets Kudermetova to 30-15 and another gives the Russian two game points.
Some good point construction sees Raducanu get to 30-40. Kudermetova does eventually hold.
12:53 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-5 Kudermetova
Kudermetova races out to a 0-30 lead before Raducanu gets on the board at 15-30.
Raducanu then goes long with another groundstroke to give Kudermetova two break points. Good first serve helps Raducanu save the first but the Briton double faults on the next to hand the Russian the break back.
12:47 PM BST
Raducanu 5-4 Kudermetova*
Raducanu cracks a return for a clean winner before Kudermetova gets on the board at 15-15.
The Briton sneaks 15-30 ahead after drawing an error from Kudermetova. An backhand-to-backhand exchange finishes with Raducanu hitting a winner to bring up two break points... and the Briton breaks after taking on and putting away a Kudermetova second serve.
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That’s two outstanding games from Raducanu. The four break points saved on serve. The remarkable crosscourt backhand winner from a deep ball. She was comfortably second-best until the eighth game there, but the long service game for 4-4 has changed the momentum. Let’s see if she can serve the set out.
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12:43 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-4 Kudermetova
Kudermetova races to 0-30 lead after a couple of errors from Raducanu who is serving with new balls.
The Briton then puts away a short forehand-cross to get to 15-30. An extended rally sees Kudermetova come out on top after the Russian finishes with a forehand winner. Kudermetova then nets a return as Raducanu gets to 30-40 and then deuce as the Russian nets a return.
Ace down the T gets Raducanu to advantage, then Kudermetova cracks a forehand return winner down the line to get back to deuce before Raducanu goes ahead again after another strong first delivery. Kudermetova gets back to deuce with a backhand winner down the line and then advantage after another return winner. Raducanu saves break point with a forehand down the line.
Deuce No 4. A deep return jams Raducanu up on the baseline to give Kudermetova advantage but Raducanu saves break point again with great smash.
Deuce No 5. Huge serve sets up the point nicely for Raducanu who gets to advantage, Kudermetova then goes wide with a backhand from the baseline and Raducanu comes through.
12:30 PM BST
Raducanu 3-4 Kudermetova*
Kudermetova gets on the board first after a nice serve-plus-one combo.
A wayward Raducanu error sees the Russian get to 30-0 and then 40-0 after another heavy forehand back to the Raducanu forehand wing... and the Russian gets her first love-hold of the contest.
12:28 PM BST
Raducanu* 3-3 Kudermetova
Raducanu double faults on the second point to bring Kudermetova back in the game and then goes long from the baseline as Kudermetova sneaks 15-30 ahead.
A well-timed drop shot gets Raducanu to 30-30 and then an ace brings up game point. Kudermetova fires a return out as Raducanu holds and wins her third game in a row.
12:25 PM BST
Raducanu determined to be aggressive
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It looks like Raducanu has come out with a determination to be aggressive. That break she gave up in the fourth game was the result of three narrow misses on big hits. Coaches would say they were “good misses” but it’s a dangerous game to play!
12:22 PM BST
Raducanu 2-3 Kudermetova*
Another good body serve sets up the opening point nicely for Kudermetova. Raducanu then goes wide with a forehand down the line as Kudermetova gets to 30-0.
Raducanu then crushes a forehand return down the line for a clean winner. The Briton levels up at 30-30 after a Kudermetova error. Raducanu hangs in an extended rally and sees Kudermetova spray a backhand long and the Briton takes the next point to immediately break back.
12:17 PM BST
Raducanu* 1-3 Kudermetova
Kudermetova gets on the board first as Raducanu hits a forehand out from the baseline.
The Briton then goes long with a forehand as Kudermetova goes up 0-30 and then 0-40 after the Russian rushes the Briton with a deep return.
Raducanu then gets on the board following a Kudermetova error. The Russian then goes long with a backhand approach as Raducanu gets to 30-40. Kudermetova breaks after finishing the point with a lovely drop shot.
12:10 PM BST
Raducanu 1-2 Kudermetova*
Good return sets up the point nicely for Raducanu who passes Kudermetova with a backhand down the line to go 0-15.
Kudermetova, making good use of her body serve, wins the next two points and then gets to 40-15 as a Raducanu return sails wide.
The Russian holds as Raducanu nets a return.
12:07 PM BST
Raducanu* 1-1 Kudermetova
Raducanu wins the opening point after Kudermetova sprays a forehand long. The Briton gets to 30-0 after another well crafted point and then 40-0 after coming out on top after an extended rally.
The Briton holds to love.
12:03 PM BST
First set: Emma Raducanu 0-1 Veronika Kudermetova* (*denotes server)
Kudermetova gets on the board first with a backhand winner down the line.
The Russian then gets to 30-0 after finishing the point with a nice volley at the net. Raducanu then gets on the board after a Kudermetova error and then follows up with a nice volley to level things up at 30-30.
Good serve into the body of Raducanu gets Kudermetova to 40-30 and the Russian holds.
11:58 AM BST
Coin toss
Raducanu won the toss and elected to receive.
11:54 AM BST
Players are on court
Raducanu and Kudermetova are on court and warming up.
11:45 AM BST
Medvedev-Popyrin is finished!
Daniil Medvedev is through to the round of 16 after seeing off Alexei Popyrin in straight sets.
Raducanu and Kudermetova are up next on Supertennis Arena.
11:38 AM BST
All set for first-time meeting
Good morning and welcome to coverage of Emma Raducanu’s third round match against Veronika Kudermetova at the Italian Open.
Raducanu has looked good so far in Rome where she has secured wins over Maya Joint and Jil Teichmann in first and second-round outings. The Briton was forced to dig deep against Australian qualifier Joint after losing the second-set tie-break but the 2021 US Open champion turned things around after a bathroom break and took the third set and the match by a 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 scoreline.
Things were much more straightforward against Teichmann on Friday. Raducanu broke the Swiss four times and looked comfortable in a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory. Ad hoc coach Mark Petchey, who was not present for the first-round match, was in Raducanu’s corner for the Teichmann match and it will be interesting to see if he is around for the Briton’s match today.
Kudermetova is yet to drop a set so far and has picked up wins against Lucrezia Stefanini and 15th seed Amanda Anisimova. The 28-year-old Russian, is a former top 10 player and she has pedigree on clay after reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros in 2022. She also made a run to the last four in Rome in 2023.
Raducanu and Kudermetova have never met on the WTA Tour before.
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