Coco Gauff managed to rally back from a bout of nausea and even vomiting on the court to secure a hard‑won victory over Sorana Cirstea in a lively third‑round encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday. The American, who entered the tournament as the reigning French Open champion and was the runner‑up in Madrid a year earlier, fought through a series of physical setbacks, clawing back from a set down and a break in the second set to advance to the fourth round with a 4‑6, 7‑5, 6‑1 triumph.
Early in the match Gauff began to feel unwell. During the second set she signaled for the on‑site physiotherapist, then experienced a sudden bout of vomiting on the hard‑court surface. After the episode a team doctor checked her blood pressure and cleared her to continue playing. Despite the discomfort, Gauff refused to surrender and kept fighting point after point.
The tournament has been shadowed by reports of a viral illness circulating among players, which has already forced several high‑profile withdrawals, including Iga Swiatek, Marin Cilic and Madison Keys. The presence of the bug has added an extra layer of uncertainty for competitors, and Gauff later acknowledged that she was likely dealing with the same issue that had plagued many of her peers in Madrid.
When asked how she managed to persevere, Gauff admitted she had no clear answer. "I don't know," she said candidly. "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.
I'm just trying to push through for tomorrow." In a follow‑up interview with Sky Sports she elaborated, describing how she tried to keep food down after the first bout of vomiting, only to vomit again before finally feeling a little better. "It was a tough match," she added. "I think I got the Madrid Open virus bug that's going around and I'm usually someone who doesn't get sick." Gauff also reflected on how the clay surface influenced the match.
She noted that the slower, higher‑bouncing balls on the red clay gave her a few extra fractions of a second to react, which was helpful when she was not moving at her best due to the illness. "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. The Romanian opponent, Sorana Cirstea, voiced frustration over what she perceived as coaching from Gauff's box.
Early in the first set she approached umpire Kader Nouni, claiming that Gauff's coach was shouting instructions from the sidelines, saying things like "Come on, aggressive, let's go, do this all game long, come on, forehand, backhand, first serve." Cirstea complained that the shouting was distracting and felt like illegal coaching. Nouni responded that he did not hear any coaching and allowed play to continue. Despite the tension and the physical strain, Gauff rallied in the third set, dominating the remainder of the match with a decisive 6‑1 scoreline.
Her resilience paid off, earning her a place in the next round where she will face Linda Noskova. Noskova advanced to the fourth round after receiving a walkover when 20th‑seeded Liudmila Samsonova withdrew because of illness. The Madrid Open continues to be a focal point for both high‑level tennis and concerns about player health. Organizers have been working closely with medical staff to monitor the situation and ensure that players receive prompt attention when symptoms arise.
The tournament's medical team has emphasized the importance of hydration, rest, and early detection of any viral symptoms to protect the field of competitors. Fans can follow the action live through Sky Sports or stream via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which provide expanded coverage of ATP and WTA events.
The platform promises more than 50 percent additional live sport content for subscribers at no extra cost, making it easier for tennis enthusiasts to keep up with the drama on and off the court. In summary, Gauff's performance in Madrid showcased not only her technical skill but also her mental toughness. Overcoming nausea, a virus, and a challenging opponent, she demonstrated the kind of determination that defines champions. Her next challenge against Noskova will test whether she can maintain this momentum while still recovering from the illness that threatened to derail her campaign in the Spanish capital.