Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur was among several players left stunned after a massive power outage across Spain forced the postponement of matches at the Madrid Open. De Minaur, currently Australia’s No.1, had been looking to build on his strong clay-court form following a first-round win over Lorenzo Sonego and Novak Djokovic’s early exit from the tournament.
The unprecedented blackout plunged much of the Iberian Peninsula into darkness, including Madrid’s main stadium, which despite having a roof, was rendered completely dark. Fans were left scrambling, trying to find their way out of the seating areas, while players were forced into limbo.
After nearly four hours of delays, tournament officials cancelled all play for the day. Communication was further disrupted as internet and mobile services went down across the region, leaving players unable to update fans or receive important information.
When connectivity was finally restored, De Minaur took to social media, showing good humor about the situation:
“Don’t mind this off-the-grid thing. On the third walk of the day and finally got some service to check on the rest of the world.”
Adding to the disruption, De Minaur’s fiancée, Katie Boulter, had apparently just left Madrid after bowing out of both her singles and doubles events. Her absence during the chaotic day was noted, with Boulter cheekily posting:
“Imagine blaming a country blackout for not texting me back all day.”
Boulter had supported De Minaur during his opening victory, but is now likely headed to Rome for the next clay-court tournament.
Blackout Causes Widespread Chaos at the Madrid Open
The blackout disrupted matches across the tournament. American star Coco Gauff was in the middle of a post-match interview when the lights went out, cutting off her microphone. Gauff later posted on Instagram from a pitch-black players’ area, noting the extent of the situation:
“No power where the showers are. About to take a shower, and I’ll let you all know how it goes.”
She also warned that players might struggle to return to their hotels due to traffic signal outages across Madrid, emphasizing just how dependent society is on electricity:
“It’s crazy how much we rely on electricity. It really puts everything in perspective.”
De Minaur Eyes Deep Madrid Run Amid Djokovic’s Exit
Despite the chaos, De Minaur’s form continues to impress. After reaching the semifinals in Monte Carlo and the quarterfinals in Barcelona, he has risen to World No.7. With Novak Djokovic’s surprising loss to Matteo Arnaldi in Madrid’s second round and Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the tournament due to injury, De Minaur has a real opportunity to push even higher in the rankings.
The Aussie now prepares to face Denis Shapovalov in the rescheduled second-round match, with hopes of continuing his momentum toward a strong Roland Garros campaign.
