Madrid, April 27, 2026 – The Madrid Open has introduced an unexpected twist as players contend with a health scare amidst the action on the court. Multiple athletes, including world-renowned stars like Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Marin Cilic, have reported symptoms consistent with either a stomach virus or food poisoning, raising alarm about the potential impacts on the tournament.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka narrowly averted an upset against Naomi Osaka in their fourth-round encounter, displaying resilience as she triumphed 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-2. Following her victory, Sabalenka revealed she is adhering to a strict diet in hopes of avoiding the illness, saying she has opted for chicken breast, rice, and salad. Rumors circulate among competitors that contaminated shrimp tacos may have sparked the outbreak, prompting Sabalenka to joke while knocking on wood, “So far, so good. I heard that I have to avoid those tacos.”
The Belarusian champion is taking precautions, explaining, “I try not to stay for too long” at the venue, adding she is boosting her immune system with extra vitamin C and other supplements.
Coco Gauff experienced a distressing moment during her match against Sorana Cirstea, when she vomited on court yet managed to secure a victory. However, her luck ran out against Linda Noskova in a tightly contested three-set battle that ended 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5). Despite her loss, Gauff appeared symptom-free afterward.
Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, withdrew from her match after admitting, “I’ve been feeling terrible.” Similarly, Cilic was unable to compete against Joao Fonseca due to food poisoning, voicing regret and describing his state as “exhausted.”
In a bright spot, Sabalenka’s resounding win against Osaka marked her 15th consecutive victory and propelled her to the quarterfinals, extending her remarkable record of reaching this stage in 17 straight tournaments. “I’m really happy that I didn’t give up and was pushing until the very last point,” she commented after overcoming a challenging start.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka is set to clash with American Hailey Baptiste, who persevered through an exhausting match to defeat Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-7 (14), 6-3, in a contest that featured the longest tiebreaker recorded since 2024. Baptiste showed significant determination, overcoming frustrations after wasting several match points before finally securing the win.
In a surprising development, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina faced elimination from the tournament after losing in straight sets to lucky loser Anastasia Potapova. Rybakina expressed dissatisfaction with the electronic line-calling system following a contentious interaction during her previous match, where she lost confidence in the technology after a disputed call.
With the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz due to a wrist injury, the hopes of Spanish fans rest solely on the shoulders of 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, who is now the last local player standing after his hard-fought victory against Fonseca. Meanwhile, other Spanish competitors saw early exits, with Daniel Merida and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud, respectively.
As the tournament progresses, players will not only face their rivals on the court but also the health concerns lurking off the court. The Madrid Open continues to be a dramatic showcase of resilience, skill, and strategy amid unprecedented challenges.
