Madrid Open Matches Halted Amidst Widespread Power Outage in Spain and Portugal
The Madrid Open tennis tournament suspended all matches due to a significant power outage impacting Spain and Portugal. The blackout, which began around 12:34 p.m. local time, interrupted two singles matches and one doubles match at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Grigor Dimitrov led Jacob Fearnley 6-4, 5-4 in the Manolo Santana Stadium, and Matteo Arnaldi was ahead 6-3, 3-2 against Damir Dzumhur when play stopped. The outage caused a spider cam to dangle over the court and disabled electronic line-calling systems, prompting officials to pause the tournament.
The Madrid Open team posted on X, stating, “The Madrid Open has been affected by the general power outage, we are working to restore normality as soon as possible. We will keep you informed through our social media channels.”
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Spain’s grid operator, Red Eléctrica, estimated power restoration could take 6 to 10 hours, leaving the schedule uncertain. While the cause of the outage is still under investigation, a cyberattack has not been ruled out, though no evidence supports this yet. The disruption has left players, staff, and fans in limbo, with organizers prioritizing safety and system recovery before resuming play.
The incident highlights the challenges of managing large sporting events during infrastructure failures. Fans are advised to monitor the tournament’s social media for updates on when matches might restart. The tennis community remains hopeful for a quick resolution to continue the prestigious event, but the outage has sparked conversations about preparedness for such unexpected disruptions.
The Madrid Open’s response will be critical in maintaining the tournament’s reputation and ensuring a smooth return to competition.
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