Coco Gauff managed to pull herself together after feeling ill and even vomiting on the court, ultimately prevailing over Sorana Cirstea in a spirited encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday. The American, who entered the tournament as the defending French Open champion and was the runner‑up in Madrid a year earlier, battled through a series of physical setbacks, clawing back from a set down and a break in the second set to secure her 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 to the medical team, indicating that she needed assistance.
She subsequently vomited on the hardcourt surface, after which a team doctor checked her blood pressure and ensured she was stable enough to continue. The incident highlighted the growing concerns surrounding a viral illness that has been circulating among players at the event. The same bug has forced several high‑profile competitors, including Iga Swiatek, Marin Cilic and Madison Keys, to withdraw from the tournament, raising questions about the overall health environment in Madrid.
When asked how she managed to soldier on despite feeling so poorly, Gauff admitted she was unsure herself. "I don't know.
Honestly, I was just trying to finish the match and one point turned into another," she told reporters. "I think I got what everybody else is having here in Madrid unfortunately. Just going try to push through for tomorrow." In a later interview with Sky Sports, Gauff elaborated on the physical toll the illness took on her. "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 explained. She described the situation as a "tough match" and said she was dealing with what she called the "Madrid Open virus bug" that was spreading among participants. "I'm usually someone who doesn't get sick," she added, underscoring how unusual the episode was for her.
The American also reflected on how the clay surface influenced the dynamics of the match. "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," Gauff said, noting that the slower, higher bounce on the red clay gave her a few extra fractions of a second to recover between shots, which was crucial given her weakened state. Cirstea, the Romanian opponent, voiced frustration during the early stages of the match, particularly concerning what she perceived as excessive coaching from Gauff's box.
Before the eighth game of the first set, Cirstea approached umpire Kader Nouni and complained: "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." Nouni responded that he did not hear any coaching, effectively dismissing the claim. Despite the tension and the physical discomfort, Gauff's resilience shone through. After dropping the first set 4‑6, she tightened her grip on the match, breaking Cirstea's serve at a pivotal moment in the second set and edging it to 7‑5.
The momentum shift was evident, and Gauff rode that wave into the third set, dominating 6‑1 and sealing the win. Looking ahead, Gauff will face Linda Noskova in the next round. Noskova advanced via a walkover after the 20th seed, Liudmila Samsonova, withdrew because of illness, further illustrating the impact the virus has had on the draw. The broader context of the tournament underscores how health concerns can affect elite sport.
Organizers have been urged to implement stricter sanitation protocols and provide more comprehensive medical monitoring to safeguard players. Meanwhile, fans can continue to follow the action through various streaming platforms, including Sky Sports' live coverage and the NOW streaming service, which offers additional live sport content at no extra charge for Sky subscribers. Overall, Gauff's performance in Madrid serves as a testament to her mental toughness and physical endurance. Overcoming nausea, a bout of vomiting, and a virus that has sidelined several top competitors, she demonstrated that even when the body is compromised, determination and strategic adaptation—such as leveraging the slower clay surface—can turn the tide.
Her victory not only advances her in the tournament but also adds a compelling chapter to her already impressive résumé, showcasing her ability to thrive under adversity and maintain composure in the face of unexpected challenges.