Coco Gauff's third-round victory at the 2026 Madrid Open raised more concern than celebration after the American star required a medical timeout and vomited on court during her match against Sorana Cirstea.
The incident occurred just one day after defending champion Iga Swiatek also dealt with stomach problems and had to retire from her match, leaving fans worried about player health in Madrid.
As more players reported similar illnesses, many fans on X began questioning what was happening at one of tennis's biggest events. Since the Madrid Open is one of the largest tournaments outside the Grand Slams, supporters were surprised to see multiple top players struggling with the same issue. Some even demanded that tournament conditions be thoroughly checked.
Coco Gauff Fights Through Illness
During her match against Sorana Cirstea, Coco Gauff appeared uncomfortable from the start. Cirstea won the opening set 6-4 and kept pressuring the American in the second set. At one point, Gauff had to stop play, call for medical assistance, and was seen vomiting near the court.
Despite clearly not feeling well, Gauff managed to stay calm and gradually turned the match around. She won the second set 7-5 and then dominated the final set 6-1 to secure her place in the next round. She is now set to face Linda Noskova for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Fan Reactions and Concerns
Fans quickly linked Gauff's illness to Iga Swiatek's recent stomach trouble. Swiatek had also experienced gastrointestinal issues and could not continue her match. Russian player Liudmila Samsonova also withdrew earlier in the tournament before her third-round match against Linda Noskova due to illness.
One fan wrote on X, "An elite tennis tournament not being able to give players high quality food is shocking." Another fan posted, "Madrid needs to be investigated because how do this many players get sick?" A third user added, "And Madrid needs to be checked. Why are people having stomach bugs? Thank goodness Coco Gauff pulled through even with the food poisoning."
So far, tournament organizers have not made any public statement linking the illnesses to food or conditions at the venue. Still, with several players facing similar problems during the same week, fans continue to ask questions as the Madrid Open progresses deeper into the tournament.
