'I just have to take a lot of positives': Rome setback fuels Emma Raducanu's Roland Garros ambition

Emma Raducanu was eliminated in the 4th round of the Rome Open after an undeniable loss to Coco Gauff 1-6, 2-6, but she decided to focus on the positive side of a good run in Italy. The British No. 2 reached the Round of 16 of a WTA 1000 for the third time in her career (the last two in her last three appearances).

The former US Open champion continues to gradually take steps to recover her best form. This week, she consecutively defeated Maya Joint, Jil Teichmann, and Veronika Kudermetova. Despite the loss to Gauff, Raducanu has a positive 8-3 record on clay courts this year.

"I would love to just keep improving, keep playing. I think that's a positive for me," Raducanu told Sky Sports after her loss against Gauff. "I don't want to go and hide in a hole somewhere, I want to get back out there, so that's good.”

Meanwhile, the former world No. 10 is fine-tuning details for her participation in the French Open and still has doubts about whether she will make one last appearance before the second Grand Slam of the year. "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."

"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 added. "I didn't win on the match court today but I'm going to find a way to win the day still today.”

The entry list for the Strasbourg Open was announced a few days ago, without Raducanu on the list. However, the wildcards have not yet been announced, and it is likely that if Raducanu decides to attend the tournament, she will be accepted as a former Grand Slam champion.

"It was a tough day in the office. I just have to take a lot of positives. I am getting out more, I am enjoying myself and taking it in wherever I go, because it is tough on the road. So, I think just trying to find small pockets of the day, small glimmers, to make it more enjoyable."