Matches at the Madrid Open abruptly halt due to unexpected power failure, leaving tennis players in the dark and uncertain.
Under the Spanish sun, chaos unfolded at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in 2025. Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, found herself in a unusual predicament after a mass power outage swept across Spain and Portugal.
Play had been progressing smoothly when Gauff clinched a victory over Belinda Bencic, 6-4, 6-2, just before the outbreak. However, the celebration was short-lived as the power cut off, halting several matches mid-game and obstructing the use of electronic line calling systems.
In the midst of darkness, Gauff faced a less-than-ideal situation in the locker room. With no running water, she swapped her shower for baby wipes and a generous coat of perfume. "Let's just say I had to adapt," she quipped later, "and call it a day."
Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov was leading Jacob Fearnley 6-4, 5-4 in the main stadium when the lights went out. Matteo Arnaldi was also in the heat of a match against Damir Dzumhur, leading 6-3, 3-2. Despite the interruption, their match was resumed later,, apparently with manual line calling, and Arnaldi eventually emerged victorious.
A few spectators lingered in the stands to watch the remaining players practice, with candles scattered about for light. The tournament organizers, recognising the hazardous conditions, suspended and ultimately cancelled the remaining matches, advising spectators to vacate the sports complex.
The blackout crippled much of Spain and Portugal, affecting subway networks, phone lines, traffic lights, and cash machines. Restoring power to the affected areas was estimated to take up to 10 hours, causing widespread disruption. The Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica remained elusive about the reasons behind the blackout, declining to speculate.
As darkness fell, Gauff shared a photo of candles being distributed, expressing her astonishment at the reliance on electricity. "Of course, the traffic lights are out too," she added, "It's just insane how much we depend on electricity. The blackout really puts it in perspective."
Other matches, including Mirra Andreeva's victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva and Iga Swiatek's planned encounter with Diana Shnaider, were rescheduled for the following day. The fate of top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka's match against Peyton Stearns remained uncertain. In the end, the power outage proved to be more than just a temporary setback; it served as a stark reminder of our dependency on unseen forces for our daily lives.
- Coco Gauff, in a surprising turn of events, utilized candles for light in the Madrid Open locker room following the power outage.
- Grigor Dimitrov and Matteo Arnaldi, having an ongoing match, resumed their game later with manual line calling due to the Italian using candles for visibility.
- Aryna Sabalenka's match against Peyton Stearns was left uncertain due to the power outage, adding to the chaotic disruption of the Madrid Open tennis tournament.
- The power outage, as Coco Gauff pointed out, demonstrated our immense dependence on electricity, with simple activities like traffic lights now seemingly impossible without it.
