From humble beginnings to becoming the undisputed super lightweight champion of the world, Josh Taylor’s career was marked by fire, ferocity, and national pride, writes JOHN WIGHT

EMMA RADUCANU set up an Italian Open last-16 meeting with Coco Gauff as she came from behind to beat Veronika Kudermetova in Rome today.
After losing the first set despite serving at 5-4 up, Raducanu bounced back in emphatic fashion, seeing off her Russian opponent 5-7 6-0 6-1 in a contest lasting just over two and a half hours.
The 22-year-old Briton told Sky Sports: “For me the best thing about today I think was recovering after losing the first set and having serve for it.
“I think I threw in a pretty poor game at 5-4 serving, but I felt under pressure on Veronika’s returns, 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 so 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.”
Asked about trying to focus when Kudermetova took a medical time-out in set two, Raducanu said: “It was difficult, but luckily I was 5-0 up.
“I kind of knew it was to try and throw me off, but at the same time, I kept my cool. Luckily I had a good cushion, I served it out, and then from the third set I was really on it.”
Fourth seed Gauff had earlier beaten Magda Linette 7-5 6-3.

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