Madrid Open Matches Suspended As Power Outage Hits Spain, Portugal

A massive power outage disrupted the Madrid Open, suspending matches and affecting players and fans across Spain and Portugal. Jacob Fearnley's third-round match against Grigor Dimitrov was halted at a critical moment, forcing both to resume play the following day, with Dimitrov ultimately winning in straight sets. The outage, attributed to rare atmospheric phenomena causing oscillations in high-voltage lines, also led to the cancellation of play, prevented use of electronic line-calling systems, and left players navigating unusual conditions such as washing with baby wipes and eating by candlelight. Despite the chaos, some players, including Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff, managed to finish their matches, albeit under challenging circumstances. Power was gradually restored, and tournament organizers delayed the opening of gates to ensure the facility's proper functioning before resuming normal play. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of major sporting events to infrastructure disruptions and the adaptability required from athletes and organizers alike.