Coco Gauff battled her way through illness as she produced a fine comeback victory against Sorana Cirstea on Sunday.
Gauff was visibly unwell during the match, yet she proved too strong for her Romanian opponent in the Caja Magica.
Gauff found herself behind early, losing the first set 4-6. However, the two-time Grand Slam champion maintained her composure, winning the next two sets 7-5, 6-1.
The 21-year-old, a finalist in Madrid last year, will play Czech 13th seed Linda Noskova in the Madrid Open fourth round.
Gauff, the third seed in Madrid, has already achieved an impressive feat ahead of her clash with Noskova.
Coco Gauff has reached 33 round of 16s at WTA 1000 events
As per OptaAce, since the Tier-1/WTA-1000 format introduction in 1990, only Martina Hingis, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Caroline Wozniacki have reached the round of 16 at WTA 1000 events more often than Coco Gauff before turning 23 years old.
Is Coco Gauff the third-best player on the WTA Tour? 🤔
If not, who is?
Hingis, a multiple major winner, reached 44 WTA 1000 round of 16s before turning 23.
Kuznetsova and Wozniacki, both of whom also won Grand Slam titles during their respective careers, both made the round of 16 at 34 WTA 1000 events before their 23rd birthdays.
Coco Gauff, 21, has now reached 33 WTA 1000 round of 16s following her victory over Sorana Cirstea on Sunday.
By doing so, Gauff has tied Maria Sharapova’s total before turning 23.
After beating Cirstea, Gauff now has the opportunity to qualify for her 24th career WTA 1000 quarter-final.
Coco Gauff’s first round of 16 appearance in a WTA 1000 event
In 2021, 17-year-old Coco Gauff entered the Dubai Tennis Championships as a wildcard.
In the first round, Gauff defeated future top 10 star Ekaterina Alexandrova, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6.
Do you think Coco Gauff will win a Grand Slam title this year?
The American then knocked out 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, before beating qualifier Tereza Martincova.
Gauff’s run came to an end in the quarter-finals: she was defeated 3-6, 3-6 by Swiss player Jill Teichmann.
Garbine Muguruza, a former Wimbledon champion, went on to win the title, beating Barbora Krejcikova in the final.
