No. 3 seed Coco Gauff advanced to the last 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday, defeating Romanian Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 while managing illness. The 22-year-old American dropped the opening set before winning twelve of the final sixteen games to secure the victory, according to Tennis Majors.
Gauff was the latest player to compete while suffering from what has become a tournament-wide health crisis. The outbreak, believed to be food poisoning, has affected multiple competitors at the Madrid event. Despite the physical toll, Gauff found her rhythm after the first set and dominated the latter stages of the match.
The second-round victory moves Gauff forward in the draw as Madrid continues to grapple with the health issues that have disrupted play throughout the week.
Sources
- Tennis Majors: Gauff battles illness and Cirstea to advance as Madrid's food poisoning toll mounts. Published 2026-04-26.
Reported from public sources.