Coco Gauff overcame Sorana Cirstea earlier today in a sensational series of events, battling from a set down and illness to somehow claim the win.
It was typical of the American, who has proven time and time again that she boasts the necessary grit and heart to succeed even when everything is against her.
However, her opponent will also leave the court feeling rather aggrieved, having let her frustration with Coco Gauff’s box out on the umpire.
Her complaint fell on deaf ears, but fortunately we got to hear exactly what she took issue with mid-way through the match.
Sorana Cirstea’s complaint to the umpire during Coco Gauff’s match
This Madrid Open match had everything.
With the underdog taking a one-set lead, we were initially poised for a big update. Then, when Gauff won the second set, a comeback victory was in the offing.
However, with the 21-year-old feeling under the weather, she actually threw up at one point and had her vitals checked during a medical time-out.
Is Coco Gauff the third-best player on the WTA Tour? 🤔
If not, who is?
Illness has already ravaged parts of the Madrid Open draw, with Iga Swiatek one victim forced to retire from her match yesterday.
However, Gauff was not to suffer that same fate, and in an effort to uplift their wounded soldier, her coaching box took every opportunity to raise her spirits.
This was where Cirstea’s frustration lay, as she told the umpire: “Her coach is screaming from that end, ‘Come on, aggressive, let’s go, do this all game long, come on, forehand, backhand, first serve’, this is coaching!
“Because I’m there and they are bothering me because they are screaming in my ear.”
“For me, I do not hear any coaching,” the umpire replied, and as she walked away, Cirstea just shrugged as she claimed: “It’s sportsmanship.”
Coco Gauff’s road to the Madrid Open final
Having already beaten Leolia Jeanjean and Cirstea to reach the Round of 16, unsurprisingly, it gets no easier for Gauff as she seeks to make the final here in Madrid for a second straight year.
She is due to play Linda Noskova next, and should she win, will play one of Caty McNally, Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of 2026?
Then, it’s expected to be Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals, although the Australian Open champion has looked unconvincing at times this week.
And then, unsurprisingly, it’s Aryna Sabalenka who will almost definitely be waiting for her in the final.
