The Madrid Open has been grappling with an unexpected health crisis as several top tennis players have fallen ill due to a stomach virus spreading through the tournament. Prominent names such as Iga Swiatek, Marin Cilic, Madison Keys, Liudmila Samsonova, and Coco Gauff have all experienced health issues during the event, raising concerns within the tennis community.
Jannik Sinner's Simple Strategy to Stay Healthy
While many players have struggled, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has managed to remain unaffected. The Italian star recently explained that he follows a straightforward routine to avoid getting sick. He revealed that he spends minimal time at the venue unless absolutely necessary. With players constantly in close proximity in gyms, dining rooms, and practice areas, Sinner believes maintaining distance is the best defense.
During a press conference, Sinner shared why he has not been impacted by the stomach bug so far. He noted that he typically arrives late for practice sessions and departs quickly once his work is done. Sinner emphasized that he does not linger inside the tournament grounds because illnesses can spread rapidly when players are always near each other.
He stated, "I heard many withdrawals. I don't spend a lot of time here. I come match days a bit earlier but practice days very late. I practice and then get away. This is what I do every tournament. So I don't know if it's something what we are just around here in general, but you notice that when one gets sick, you know... you are always quite high close to each other, you know in the dining rooms, in the gyms, so yeah, it can happen."
Other Players Affected
Coco Gauff also dealt with the illness during her match against Sorana Cirstea, where she required medical assistance after feeling unwell on court. Iga Swiatek was forced to retire from her match against Ann Li, later stating she was suffering from food poisoning. Marin Cilic also withdrew before his scheduled match against Joao Fonseca.
Sinner's Focus on Winning
Apart from the health concerns, Sinner also discussed returning to World No. 1 after winning the Monte-Carlo Masters title against Carlos Alcaraz. Speaking to ESPN, he said the ranking is special, but his primary goal remains winning tournaments. He commented, "Getting back to No. 1 means a lot to me. At the same, as I always say, the ranking is secondary. I'm very happy to win at least one big trophy on this surface. I haven't done it before, so it means a lot to me."
Sinner will next face Cameron Norrie in the Round of 16 as he continues his Madrid Open campaign.
