Coco Gauff vomited on court at the Madrid Open but managed to avoid the same fate as Iga Swiatek, who withdrew from the tournament due to a stomach virus. The American third seed battled illness to defeat Romania's Sorana Cirstea 4-6 7-5 6-1 in a thrilling third-round encounter.
Gauff's Struggle on Court
Gauff appeared to be heading for defeat after losing the first set and trailing in the second. During the second set, she dashed to the side of the court to vomit, prompting a medical timeout. However, the 20-year-old turned the match around, winning the next two sets convincingly.
“I don’t know how I got it done,” Gauff told Sky Sports. “Just dealing with a lot of trying to keep my food down. But once I threw up – and I was able to throw up after the first set – I felt a bit better. It was just a tough match. I think I got the Madrid stomach virus that’s going around. I’m usually someone who doesn’t get sick. My luck today just wasn’t good.”
Virus Affects Multiple Players
The stomach virus has affected several players at the Madrid Open. World number one Iga Swiatek revealed on Saturday that a stomach bug was circulating in the locker room after she withdrew during the third set of her match against Ann Li. On Sunday, 20th seed Liudmila Samsonova was unable to take the court for her fourth-round match, giving Czech teenager Linda Noskova a walkover.
Gauff will now face Noskova in the fourth round, hoping to recover in time for the clash. The American's resilience has impressed fans and pundits alike, as she continues her campaign in the Spanish capital despite the illness.
