Mutua Madrid Open misery: Coco Gauff is latest to get sick

An illness outbreak has become a major storyline at the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open, with multiple top players forced to withdraw, including Madison Keys, Marin Cilic, Iga Swiatek, and Liudmila Samsonova, who withdrew before her third-round match against Linda Noskova on Sunday. Coco Gauff managed to push through her own illness to defeat Sorana Cirstea in three sets, though she was visibly unwell during the match. After the win, Gauff offered Cirstea the option to tap racquets instead of shaking hands, highlighting the contagious nature of the sickness spreading through the tournament.