Tue Apr 29 01:25:17 UTC 2025: ## Madrid Open Halted by Widespread Power Outage
**MADRID, SPAIN** – A major power outage affecting Spain and Portugal brought the Mutua Madrid Open to a standstill on Monday, April 28, 2025, forcing the cancellation of 22 matches. The outage, which began at 12:34 p.m. local time, also disrupted transportation, communication, and other essential services.
American tennis star Coco Gauff, who had just defeated Belinda Bencic before the power cut, described the aftermath, highlighting the lack of power and water in the locker rooms, forcing her to improvise with baby wipes and perfume. Gauff also shared images on Instagram depicting the darkened locker room and the distribution of candles.
The outage affected both ATP and WTA matches, including those of top-ranked players like Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek. While some matches, like that of Matteo Arnaldi and Damir Dzumhur, were completed using manual line calling, others were postponed until Tuesday. Tournament organizers emphasized that the suspension was necessary to ensure the safety of players, spectators, and staff. Power was restored in most parts of Madrid overnight, and play is expected to resume on Tuesday.
The cause of the widespread blackout remains under investigation by Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica. The incident underscored the significant reliance on electricity in modern life, as noted by Gauff.
First Piper 