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Gauff recovers from vomiting on court to beat Cirstea in feisty Madrid Open clash
April 26, 2026
Source: SkySports | News · Read on source site
Coco Gauff vomits on court before overcoming Sorana Cirstea in feisty clash; Watch the Mutua Madrid Open live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
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>Coco Gauff recovered from feeling unwell and vomiting on court to beat Sorana Cirstea in feisty Mutua Madrid Open contest on Sunday.
>The reigning French Open champion, runner-up here 12 months ago, overcame physical struggles, fighting back from a set and a break down to book her spot in the fourth round with a 4-6 7-5 6-1 win in the Spanish capital.
>Gauff called for the physio in the second set and vomited on court after which she had her blood pressure check by the doctor.
>There have been concerns at the event over the presence of a virus that has led to several players withdrawing, including Iga Swiatek, Marin Cilic and Madison Keys.
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>Asked how she managed to pull through, Gauff said: "I don't know. 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 try to push through for tomorrow."
>She later told Sky Sports: "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.
>"It was a tough match. I think I got the Madrid Open virus bug that's going around and I'm usually someone who doesn't get sick."
>On her relationship with the surface, the American added: "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."
>Cirstea also complained to umpire Kader Nouni about Gauff's coaching box, with the Romanian heard saying before the eighth game of the first set: "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."
>"For me, I do not hear any coaching," the umpire replied.
>Gauff's next opponent will be Linda Noskova, who advanced by walkover over 20th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova due to illness.
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