Coco Gauff vomits on court before advancing at Madrid Open

By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Sport Correspondent

Coco Gauff vomited on court at the Madrid Open but avoided the same fate as Iga Swiatek.

Swiatek revealed on Saturday that a stomach virus was going round the locker room in the Spanish capital after withdrawing during the third set of her third-round clash with Ann Li.

Gauff looked to be heading the same way at a set and a break down to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea and she had to dash to the side of the court to be sick during the second set.

"My luck today just wasn't good"

Coco Gauff after recovering from vomiting on court to beat Sorana Cirstea in three sets 💪 pic.twitter.com/BexOVaUioC

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) April 26, 2026

The third seed called a medical timeout but managed to turn the contest around to win 4-6 7-5 6-1.

“I don’t know how I got it done,” Gauff told Sky Sports. “Just dealing with a lot of trying to keep my food down. But once I threw up – and I was able to throw up after the first set – I felt a bit better.

“It was just a tough match. I think I got the Madrid stomach virus that’s going around. I’m usually someone who doesn’t get sick. My luck today just wasn’t good.”

Gauff will hope to recover in time for her fourth-round clash against 13th seed Linda Noskova.

The Czech benefited from a walkover on Sunday, with 20th seed Liudmila Samsonova apparently another victim of the virus and not able to take to the court.