Coco Gauff thrashed Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in a ruthless demolition by the American star in Rome. Raducanu entered what was her maiden last-16 match at the Italian Open in improved form, but was met by a blistering performance from Gauff.

The 21-year-old began with a double fault but kept any further mistakes to a minimum. She quickly broke Raducanu, who struggled in the early wind and was no match for the 2023 US Open champion on clay. Raducanu got on the board at 3-1, at the third time of asking on her serve, but the first set very much belonged to Gauff. Her serve was uninterrupted but a sublime cross-court forehand momentarily unsettled the frontrunner as Raducanu tried to pose some resistance.

A smile appeared on Raducanu's face for the first time in the contest, but that was quickly wiped away as Gauff claimed the next three games, wrapping up the first set in 39 minutes.

Raducanu appeared somewhat reticent to slide in and out of the clay corners, with Gauff’s supreme physicality the deciding factor between two former Flushing Meadows champions.

She started their second set with an important hold, only for Gauff to serve out her first game to love, reserving any energy to break the Raducanu serve.

The British No. 2 was not at her free-flowing best, and looked over to Tim Henman at one stage to note how hard her opponent was hitting the ball, but was able to claim a second hold of serve and better her tally from the opening set.

However, Gauff, one of the fastest players on tour, moved from side to side with mindblowing speed to break Raducanu and gain the upper hand once more, converting her two break points at the very first attempt.

Coach Mark Petchey applauded Raducanu’s attempt to be aggressive in that game, moving Gauff to every corner of the court, but she had nothing to show for those valiant efforts.

Play momentarily stopped as the blustery Rome wind picked up, before Gauff expertly judged a ball heading out of play and Raducanu sent an opportunity for a first break of serve wide.

At this stage of the match, having blown her biggest opportunity to rattle Gauff, Raducanu was playing back-to-the-wall tennis and could do little but watch her opponent break serve and hold on to complete the victory.

Gauff graded her own performance an "A" in a scoreline that did not accurately reflect her opponent's display, as Raducanu overall will be pleased with her run in Rome.

"Emma is a tough opponent no matter what surface, she’s tough to play, so I am really happy with my game," Gauff said on court to Henman and Gigi Salmon.

“My game is getting better every match. Madrid was a step in the right direction. I lost in the final, I don’t like losing, especially in the final, so I am hoping to redeem myself here. My forehand was a big weapon today, it set me up for a lot of short balls and good points.”

The 21-year-old set up a quarter-final with either seventh seed Mirra Andreeva or her Danish opponent Clara Tauson.