Coco Gauff, the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open finalist, looked better physically in her Round of 16 match against Linda Noskova.
No one but Gauff knows if any of the virus symptoms she experienced yesterday were still present, but she put up a valiant effort against the Czech.
Noskova has never beaten Gauff in her career, and she had not won any tiebreakers this season. She rectified both in the third set to seal the win.
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Linda Noskova reigns
She came out looking very sharp in the first set, but Gauff, the ultimate competitor took the second set.
In the third, Gauff had a sizeable lead (4-1) but Noskova worked her way back.
Noskova, 21, has long been a top talent in a loaded Czech Republic group that includes Karolina Muchova, Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, and the recently returned from years of injuries, Karolina Pliskova, who is also into the Madrid quarterfinals.
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She will play the winner of the Caty McNally and Marta Kostyuk Round of 16 match.
Mar 13, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Aryna Sabalenka (BEL) in her the semi final match defeating Linda Noskova (CZE) during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Baptiste is only American into quarterfinals so far
With Gauff’s exit, and McNally yet to play, American women only have one person in the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals.
Hailey Baptiste continues her incredible 2026 campaign when she faces World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
If McNally wins her match, she will be the second American woman in the quarters and will face Noskova.
Once again, the depth of talent in American women’s singles tennis is on display as the usual frontrunners, Gauff, Anisimova Anisimova (out with injury), Madison Keys (withdrew with illness), and Jessica Pegula are out while Baptiste and potentially McNally are seeking career-defining wins in Madrid.