Coco Gauff became the latest victim of the stomach virus that has been sweeping through the draw at the Madrid Open but the ailing American still found a way to beat Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday and reach the round of 16.
Several players have been struggling with illness in the Spanish capital this week, including Iga Swiatek, who was forced to retire from her match against Ann Li on Saturday, and Marin Cilic, who had to withdraw ahead of his second-round meeting with Joao Fonseca on Friday.
Liudmila Samsonova also pulled out of the tournament on Sunday citing illness ahead of her third-round match with Linda Noskova.
Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match before she completed the win in two hours and 21 minutes.
“Yeah, I don’t know, honestly (how I got through that),” said Gauff, who will face Noskova in the last 16. “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. So, I’m just going to try to push through for tomorrow.”
Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match.
| Photo Credit:
AP
A runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in the Spanish capital 12 months ago, Gauff has 3,300 points to defend on clay from Madrid through to her Roland Garros title defence in early June.
“I pulled out in Indian Wells. I’m not someone who likes to pull out, so I didn’t want to pull out again today. So, I’m glad that I was able to get through it,” added the two-time Grand Slam champion.
“I did start to feel better, not feeling like I had to throw up. They gave me some pills, so that definitely helped.
“But I was really tired… The first part was literally just trying to keep whatever I ate down. Once they gave me something to help with that, then I was just nauseous and tired. But I can deal with that.”
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match. | Photo Credit: AP
Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match. | Photo Credit: AP
![Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes](https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/wsqh25/article70902824.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-24T140355Z_1777741233_UP1EM4O132H4S_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG "Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes")
![Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/wsqh25/article70902824.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-24T140355Z_1777741233_UP1EM4O132H4S_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG?ssl=1 "Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes")
