The 2025 Madrid Open will be remembered not only for its thrilling tennis but also for the unprecedented chaos caused by a massive power outage that swept across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on April 28. As the Caja Magica plunged into darkness, halting matches and stranding players and fans, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek turned the disruption into an unexpected gift. The four-time Roland Garros champion, known for her steely focus, revealed how she found solace in the blackout, using the rare moment of disconnection to recharge before storming into the quarterfinals with a hard-fought victory over Diana Shnaider. “I just chilled and used that time to not think about what I should do, if I should text or contact, because there was no signal. So basically, no one used their phones. It was nice,” Swiatek shared, her words capturing a serene resilience that defined her tournament journey.
The blackout, which struck shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time, transformed the vibrant ATP and WTA 1000 event into a scene of surreal stillness. Scoreboards went dark, electronic line-calling systems failed, and a spidercam dangled precariously over the Manolo Santana Stadium. Matches, including Grigor Dimitrov’s clash with Jacob Fearnley, were suspended, and 22 contests were postponed. Swiatek, scheduled to face Shnaider in the fourth round, found herself in the darkened players’ lounge, surrounded by teammates and flickering candlelight. “I liked yesterday. I think the whole world was just more relaxed, kind of, obviously the people who didn’t lose because of this,” she reflected, highlighting the silver lining she discovered in the chaos. With no electricity or phone signal, she embraced the chance to unplug, taking food from the tournament site and relaxing at her hotel until power returned later that evening.
Swiatek’s ability to adapt shone through when play resumed on April 29. Facing the 13th-seeded Shnaider, she delivered a commanding 6-0 first set, only to be pushed to the brink in a 6-7(3) second-set tiebreak. The third set, a 6-4 grind, showcased her tenacity, as she saved 11 of 13 break points in a match lasting over two and a half hours. “I think I moved better, and I spin the ball a little bit more,” she said of her decisive third-set performance, acknowledging a second-set dip due to wind and sluggish footwork. Her victory secured her seventh quarterfinal of the season, keeping her on track to defend her Madrid title and reinforcing her 78-0 career record in matches where she wins a set 6-0.
The outage’s impact extended far beyond the courts, paralyzing Madrid’s infrastructure—traffic lights failed, the metro stalled, and airports reported delays. Players like Coco Gauff, who resorted to baby wipes in a dark locker room, and Marta Kostyuk, who posted an Instagram story holding a candle, navigated the surreal environment with humor and resourcefulness. Swiatek, however, found the experience grounding. “I enjoyed the time off, and I tried to just recover, because we need to savor these free days, for sure,” she said, a nod to the relentless demands of the tour. Her next challenge, a quarterfinal clash against Australian Open champion Madison Keys on April 30, promises intensity, especially after Keys edged her in a dramatic Melbourne semifinal earlier this year.
Swiatek’s calm amid the storm underscores her mental fortitude, a quality that has fueled her 17 consecutive clay-court quarterfinals, a streak unmatched since Martina Hingis’s run from 1997 to 2002. As the tennis world buzzes with anticipation for her showdown with Keys, her blackout experience—marked by candlelit conversations and a phone-free retreat—adds a unique chapter to her Madrid legacy. In a tournament defined by disruption, Swiatek’s ability to find peace in the darkness illuminated her path forward, proving that even in chaos, champions find a way to shine.[](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/44899397/tennis-madrid-open-suspended-due-major-power-outage)[](https://www.nbcsports.com/tennis/news/iga-swiatek-reaches-madrid-open-quarterfinals-after-relaxed-day-during-blackout-alexander-zverev-loses)[](https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4256047/swiatek-survives-scare-from-shnaider-to-return-to-madrid-quarters)
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