Coco Gauff managed to shake off a sudden bout of nausea and even vomiting during her match, ultimately prevailing over Sorana Cirstea in a hard‑fought encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday. The American, who entered the tournament as the defending French Open champion and was runner‑up in Madrid a year earlier, battled through both physical discomfort and a temporary loss of momentum to secure a place in the fourth round with a 4‑6, 7‑5, 6‑1 victory in the Spanish capital. Early in the second set, Gauff signaled for the on‑court physiotherapist after feeling light‑headed. Moments later she experienced a full‑blown episode of vomiting, prompting the medical team to pause play and check her blood pressure.
Despite the unsettling interruption, the young star remained determined to finish the match. "I don’t know," she admitted when asked how she managed to push through.
"Honestly, I was just trying to finish the match and one point turned into another. I think I got what everybody else is having here in Madrid, unfortunately. Just going to try to push through for tomorrow." Later, speaking to Sky Sports, Gauff elaborated on the ordeal. "I don’t know how I got it done.
I tried to keep my food down but once I threw up I was able to throw up again and then I felt a bit better," she said. She added that the incident was likely linked to a viral bug that has been circulating among players at the event. The same illness has already forced several high‑profile competitors, including Iga Swiatek, Marin Cilic and Madison Keys, to withdraw from the tournament. The match itself was a roller‑coaster.
Cirstea started strongly, taking the opening set 6‑4 and even raising her voice to the umpire, Kader Nouni, about what she perceived as coaching from Gauff’s box. "Her coach is screaming from that end, 'Come on, aggressive, let's go, do this all game long, come on, forehand, backhand, first serve', this is coaching! Because I'm there and they are bothering me because they are screaming in my ear," the Romanian complained before the eighth game of the first set.
Nouni responded calmly, "For me, I do not hear any coaching." After the break, Gauff regrouped. The slower, higher‑bouncing clay surface in Madrid proved to be an unexpected ally. "The clay helped me today because the ball was a little bit slower so it bounced higher.
It gave me time to get to some balls when I wasn’t moving my best," she explained. Using the extra reaction time, she fought back to level the match at one set all, edging the second set 7‑5 after a series of long rallies and crucial break points. With the momentum firmly in her favour, Gauff dominated the third set, unleashing powerful groundstrokes and aggressive net approaches that left Cirstea scrambling. The final set closed out at 6‑1, confirming Gauff’s resilience and mental toughness in the face of both physical illness and a determined opponent.
The victory not only secured her a spot in the round of 16 but also set up a clash with Linda Noskova, who advanced via a walkover after 20th‑seeded Liudmila Samsonova withdrew because of illness. Gauff’s next challenge will test whether she can maintain her form while the same viral concerns continue to loom over the tournament. The broader context of the Madrid Open this week has been marked by heightened health precautions. Tournament officials have been monitoring a suspected viral infection that appears to be spreading through the players' village and practice courts.
Organizers have increased sanitation measures, provided additional medical staff, and advised athletes to stay hydrated and rest adequately between matches. Despite these efforts, the illness has taken a toll on the draw, reshaping the competition and opening opportunities for lower‑ranked players. Fans watching at home were reminded to use a Chrome browser for optimal video playback, and the match was available via Sky Sports’ streaming platform, NOW, and the Sky Sports app.
The network also promoted its broader tennis coverage, including live ATP and WTA events, highlights, and exclusive player interviews. In summary, Coco Gauff’s triumph over Sorana Cirstea was a testament to her ability to adapt under duress, leverage the unique characteristics of clay courts, and keep her focus despite an unexpected health setback. Her gritty performance adds another chapter to her rising career and underscores the unpredictable nature of professional tennis, where physical resilience can be just as decisive as technical skill.