The 2025 Madrid Open was thrown into chaos on Monday, April 28, due to a power outage that affected Spain and Portugal, leading to the cancellation of all matches scheduled for the day. The unexpected blackout caused widespread disruption, shocking both fans and players alike at one of the premier tennis events in the world.
As a result of the outage, the tournament organizers announced an expanded schedule for Tuesday, April 29, 2025. A total of eighteen singles matches and fourteen doubles matches will take place across the tournament's venues. This surge in activity marks a significant intensification of the competition as players rush to catch up, with the event now reaching the critical stages of the round of 16.
The action is set to kick off at 11:00 CET, with the women's singles match featuring Russia's Diana Shnaider going head-to-head with Poland's Iga Swiatek, the reigning champion. Following this, fans can expect to see Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria face off against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, as the tournament resumes its high-stakes atmosphere.
Among the players eager to return to the court is Australia's Alex de Minaur, who is scheduled to compete against Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round. De Minaur, known for his resilience and agility, is looking to make a strong impression after the unexpected interruption. In a lighthearted take on the situation, he humorously commented on social media, "Don’t mind this off the grid thing. On the 3rd walk off the day and finally got some service to check on the rest of the world." His fiancée, fellow tennis pro Katie Boulter, quipped back, expressing her frustration at being left in the dark, literally and figuratively.
American star Taylor Fritz also made headlines, achieving his 300th career win at the Madrid Open. He is now into the last 16 and is set to face off against Norway's Casper Ruud. Fritz shared his thoughts on the power outage with a humorous tweet, asking, "Have they tried unplugging and plugging it back in?" His lightheartedness amidst the chaos reflects the camaraderie among players during such unpredictable events.
The women's side of the draw also promises exciting matchups. Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, will take on Peyton Stearns, who has been making waves in the tournament. Stearns previously expressed her surprise at the situation with a tweet that read, "I didn’t mean this literally…", referencing her earlier post about the challenges of competing in the dark.
Coco Gauff, currently ranked fourth in the WTA standings, also took to social media to comment on the outage. She wrote, "Put this in the history books, in all seriousness I hope everyone stays safe." Gauff is set to face off against Mirra Andreeva in what promises to be a thrilling quarter-final match.
The Madrid Open, part of both the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tours, has seen its share of drama this year, and the power outage only adds to the narrative of this prestigious event. With the tournament now in full swing, players are not only battling their opponents but also the clock, as they work to reschedule matches and adapt to the new timetable.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes grow higher, with the women's final scheduled for Saturday and the men's final for Sunday. Players are gearing up for intense competition, and fans can expect to see some of the best tennis action as the tournament heads into its final days.
In addition to the on-court action, there are significant off-court stories unfolding. Notably, French footballer Ferland Mendy has suffered a new muscle tear, which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, raising concerns for his club's defensive lineup. Meanwhile, the director of the National Ballet of Cuba, Viengsay Valdés, has been honored with the National Dance Award 2025, showcasing the diverse spectrum of talent and achievement across various fields.
As the Madrid Open resumes, all eyes will be on the players as they navigate the challenges presented by the power outage and the remaining matches. With excitement in the air, fans are eager to witness who will emerge victorious in this year's tournament, as the competition heats up and stories unfold both on and off the court.
