Gauff battles illness and Cirstea to advance as Madrid’s food poisoning toll mounts
Coco Gauff won against Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday. She’ll face Czech Linda Noskova, the No 13 seed, in the next round
Coco Gauff, Madrid 2026 | © PsNewz
Coco Gauff, the No 3 seed, fought through illness to beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea, the No 25 seed, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday and reach the last 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open. Gauff was the latest player to compete while suffering from what has become a tournament-wide health crisis.
The 22-year-old American dropped the opening set before finding her level, winning twelve of the last sixteen games to close out the match in three sets. At the net, she offered not to shake hands given her condition. Cirstea accepted anyway.
“I don’t know — honestly, I was just trying to finish the match and one point turned into another,” Gauff said. “I think I got what everybody else is having here in Madrid unfortunately. Just gonna try to push through for tomorrow.”
Samsonova, the latest to withdraw
The cause of the outbreak has been traced by Jim Courier from Tennis Channel to shrimp tacos served at the tournament. Iga Swiatek retired in tears on Saturday, describing dizziness and a total collapse of energy.
Liudmila Samsonova withdrew before her third-round match on Sunday. Marin Cilic and Madison Keys are among others who have pulled out. Seventeen women have now either withdrawn or retired in Madrid. The tournament has become as much a test of endurance off the court as on it.
Gauff’s reward for pushing through is a fourth-round match against Czech Linda Noskova, the No 13 seed, who advanced without playing after Samsonova’s withdrawal. Noskova, ranked No 13 and 21 years old, had beaten Colombian Emiliana Arango in the previous round and will arrive fresh and rested – an advantage that, given the circumstances at the Caja Mágica this week, is worth more than usual.
