Power Outage Chaos Strikes Again at the Madrid Open — Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva React
Power outages disrupting tennis tournaments aren’t a new phenomenon. In 2024, the Madrid Open witnessed a surprising daytime blackout that brought matches to a standstill when the electronic line-calling system failed. Then, in February 2025, the Chile Open was interrupted by a massive countrywide power outage — the worst Chile had seen since 2010. Fast forward to April 28, 2025: another major power disruption swept across the Iberian Peninsula, once again halting action at the Madrid Open.
Coco Gauff: “At first I was trying to request yesterday to be like second on instead of first, but I’m glad that request didn’t go through, so shout-out to WTA supervisors for making the right decision for me 😂” pic.twitter.com/b5Dw8oDAFS
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) April 28, 2025
While some players like Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva were fortunate to avoid immediate match interruptions, others — including world number one Iga Swiatek — found themselves waiting in a dimly lit players’ lounge, talking with teammates until play could resume.
Addressing the situation, Spain’s Prime Minister linked the outage to a broader issue within Europe’s electrical grid, although the exact cause remained under investigation, according to the Associated Press. During the blackout, Coco Gauff’s microphone cut out during an on-court interview, forcing her to quickly leave the court. She later shared the moment on social media, captioning it, “put this in the history books, in all seriousness I hope everyone stays safe.”
Reports revealed a sharp plunge in Spain’s electricity demand from about 27,500 megawatts to 15,000 megawatts at around 12:15 p.m. According to the ATP, the outage struck at 12:34 p.m. local time, disrupting two singles and one doubles match that were underway. Fans found themselves quite literally “in the dark,” with players resorting to candlelit dinners around the venue.
Reflecting on the incident, Gauff expressed gratitude that her earlier request to play later in the day had been denied, saying, “At first, I was trying to request yesterday to be like second on instead of first, but I’m glad that request didn’t go through, so shout-out to WTA supervisors for making the right decision for me.”
She also shared more about her experience during the blackout: “It was pitch-black, and I got the gist that the power went out. I thought it was just us and then I realized it was the whole country, that’s just insane.” Gauff added that the biggest inconvenience was not being able to shower after her match. “There’s no running water so I just had to take baby wipes and wipe myself, spray some perfume, and call it a day.” She also pointed out the traffic issues caused by non-functioning traffic lights and marveled at how heavily modern life depends on electricity, noting how incredible it is to think of people who lived before power was invented.
Former coach Brad Gilbert commented on the situation via social media, highlighting how the absence of backup line judges made it impossible to resume play quickly. Other American players like Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, and Peyton Stearns also shared their reactions.
Mirra Andreeva, Gauff’s next opponent, recalled her close call with the blackout. Serving at 15-40, she knew that losing that game might have extended the match and delayed it significantly. “I was like, ‘Oh, Mirra, please do everything in your power to take this game and finish the match.’ I knew that if it went to 5-5, we probably would have to wait, and I would be here still,” she said. She described the scene afterward — players using phone flashlights and chatting in a relaxed atmosphere — as surprisingly “fun” despite the high stakes of the tournament.
Gauff and Andreeva Prepare for a Big Quarterfinal Clash
The Madrid Open is now set for an exciting quarterfinal battle as two of the youngest stars in the Top 30, Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva, prepare to face off. It will be the third time they’ve met on the WTA Tour, with Gauff currently holding a 2-0 record against Andreeva.
Since their last clay-court encounter at Roland Garros in 2023, where Gauff won convincingly, both players have evolved. Andreeva, who has already captured two WTA 1000 titles this year in Dubai and Indian Wells, expressed her excitement about the upcoming challenge: “Last time I faced her on clay was Roland Garros 2023. The first set was tight, but the rest of the match was like ehhh. She didn’t give me a chance. But it was two years ago, so I’m just super excited to not take revenge but to see how different I play. I think it’s going to be an entertaining match.”
If Andreeva manages to defeat Gauff, she will reach the semifinals of the Madrid Open for the first time in her career. Meanwhile, Gauff is also achieving milestones: by defeating Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-2 in the Round of 16, she has reached the last eight of the Madrid Open for the first time.