The Madrid Open was forced to suspend play on Monday, April 28, 2025, after a widespread power outage struck the Spanish capital, impacting not only the tennis tournament but also public transport and daily life across the region. The outage, which began around 12:34 p.m. local time, led to the halting of matches and left fans and players alike in disarray.
At the Manolo Santana Stadium, the round of 32 match between 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov and British player Jacob Fearnley was interrupted while Dimitrov led 6-4, 5-4. The suspension was necessitated by safety concerns after a spidercam became stuck in a position that obstructed the players' view of the court, leaving officials with no choice but to stop the match. Fearnley was about to serve to stay in the match when the decision was made to evacuate the court.
Meanwhile, fourth seed Coco Gauff's post-match interview was abruptly cut short after her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Belinda Bencic, as her microphone lost power. The disruption extended to electronic line calling systems, which failed alongside the scoreboards, causing confusion among players and fans.
According to reports, the power outage was attributed to a "rare" atmospheric phenomenon by the Portuguese energy company REN, which stated that variations in temperatures led to the widespread blackout affecting areas of Spain and even extending to parts of Portugal and France. Traffic lights failed across Madrid, and the underground railway system had to be evacuated, adding to the chaos in the city.
Images shared on social media showed dark hallways and food stalls at the tournament where torches were used to illuminate the area, as card machines were rendered useless. Fans were left stranded outside the stadium, with many expressing frustration over the unexpected turn of events.
As the situation unfolded, the Madrid Open organizers released a statement confirming that play would not resume for the day. "For reasons beyond the control of the organization and in order to guarantee general safety, the nationwide power-cut experienced in Spain on Monday, April 28 has forced the cancellation of both the day and night sessions at the Mutua Madrid Open," the statement read.
In addition to the Dimitrov-Fearnley match, other matches were also affected. Matteo Arnaldi, who had recently upset Novak Djokovic, was leading 6-3, 3-2 against Damir Dzumhur when play was halted. The men's doubles match between Evan King and Christian Harrison against Matthew Ebden and John Peers was another casualty of the power cut.
Fans watching from home were greeted with an apology from broadcasters, stating, "Apologies for loss of pictures," as coverage was interrupted due to the blackout. The ATP later confirmed that two singles matches and one doubles match were in progress when the power went out, leaving many players and fans in limbo.
As the organizers worked to restore normalcy, Red Electrica, the Spanish power grid operator, announced that they were collaborating with energy companies to restore power. Reports indicated that power was slowly beginning to return in some areas, but the full impact of the outage was still being assessed.
In an unexpected twist, footage captured the moment the power cut hit Madrid during Gauff's interview, with the advertising boards behind her turning off. The startled reaction from the American player, who stepped back and covered her mouth as the microphone cut out, quickly went viral on social media.
As the day came to a close, fans and players alike were left wondering when play would resume. Fearnley and Dimitrov were expected to continue their match on Tuesday, with Fearnley needing to serve to stay in the contest. Meanwhile, fellow British players Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper were also scheduled to compete later in the day, though their matches were also affected by the blackout.
With the Madrid Open being one of the biggest events in the tennis calendar outside the four Grand Slams, the organizers faced significant challenges in ensuring the safety and satisfaction of all attendees. The unexpected blackout served as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of live sporting events, where external factors can dramatically alter the course of play.
As the tournament looks to recover from this unprecedented situation, fans are left eagerly anticipating the resumption of matches and hoping for a swift return to normalcy, both on and off the court. The Madrid Open, a staple in the tennis world, is not just a showcase of talent but also a testament to the resilience of the sport and its community.
In the coming days, all eyes will be on the tournament as players prepare to return to the courts, and organizers work diligently to ensure that the remainder of the event unfolds smoothly. The Madrid Open continues to hold a special place in the hearts of tennis fans worldwide, and this unexpected interruption will surely be a talking point for years to come.
