Grigor Dimitrov sits on the floor on a channel that runs around the tennis facility in Madrid. Leaning against a pillar with his back, he always looks at his cell phone, takes his cap off his head and strokes his hair and face with both hands. His frustration is noticeable.
In his third round of Madrid Open against the British Jacob Fearnley, the Bulgarian tennis player had the chance at 5: 3 in the second set to win the match with his own serve. Instead, he collected the break to 5: 4.
A little more than an hour later, Dimitrov sits frustrated frustrated on the channel. But not because he lost the game. Because he still leads 5: 4. But the match had to be interrupted. Power failure.
Electronic line calling screens and payment system affected
At 12.50 p.m. there is nothing left in Madrid. All screens in the Caja Magica are black, the payment systems on the food stalls did not work. And the Electronic Line Calling, the electronic line judge system, also fails-and forces Dimitrov to take a break.
“If I were like this, I would definitely be a bit acidic. But that’s tennis, that’s life,” says Coco Gauff within sight of Dimitrov. The US Open winner from 2023 was also affected by the power failure. Although the American had already won her match against the Swiss Belinda Benic 6: 4 and 6: 2, but was no longer able to finish what she had eaten for breakfast in her winning interview.
“It is bizarre. At first I thought the microphone was broken,” she says. “When I should use the stairs after the game, I saw that everything was dark.”
But everything is not only dark in Madrid. As the Portuguese network operator Ren explained, the electricity and also in parts of France failed the entire Iberian Peninsula. The cause is unknown. “This is madness,” says Gauff.
Become ball children Temporary line judge
But as is well known, need makes inventive. On an outer place in the double match of the Australian Mattew Ebden and John Peers against the Americans Evan King and Christian Harrison, the ball children were quickly made temporary line judges.
Mirra Andreeva has also been spared a fate like Dimitrov. In her match against the Ukrainian Julija Starodubzewa, she also led 5: 4 in the second set. She had won the first round 6-1. When changing sides, the chair referee informed the players about the power failure.
Instead of canceling, the referee became a linesman at the same time. “I was glad that we could continue,” says Andreeva later. “But then I was 15:40 with my own service and only thought: ‘Please, Mirra. Do everything in your power to win this game.’ I knew that if it was 5: 5, we probably have to stop.
Andreeva was still turning the game and won the second set 6: 4. Despite the lack of a line judge, there were no controversial decisions. “We had a good referee. But we also had no balls that really jumped close to the lines. So we didn’t have to check any prints.”
Andreeva: “I have a book and UN cards”
For the Russian, who turns 18 on Tuesday (April 29, 2025), all of this is a new experience: “This is my first power failure. It is a bit exciting because I have never experienced anything like that.” Nevertheless, she is prepared: “I have a book and UN cards with me,” she says. “I also have no problem with it without being my cell phone. The only thing I need is the flashlight”.
Other players don’t have it so easy. For example, Diana Schneider, who should actually play after Dimitriov at the Center Court against the world ranking of Iga Swiatek from Poland. Schneider, also Russian, is also Andreeva’s double partner. “Diana had already got warm when she found out about the power failure. Now she is still waiting,” says Andreeva.
Gauff is also glad that she has already had her match behind: “Not knowing when you play is super heavy. It’s like a rain break, except that it is totally strange. I’m sorry. You can’t do anything. It’s a bit boring.”
Andreeva can get something positive from the situation: “I was in the gym. Everything is super dark. Everyone uses a flashlight. But it is fun because everyone is now talking to each other. The mood is much more loosened than usual.”
Remaining games of the day canceled
However, Andreeva does not know how it continues. And even Gauff doesn’t know what her further day would look like. “I don’t even know if we can go back to the hotel because all traffic lights failed. It is crazy how much we are dependent on electricity. I have to think of all the people who used to live completely without electricity and how impressive it is,” she says, laughing warmly.
Humor is the only thing that can help in this situation anyway: “At some point we will all remember the day when the electricity failed in Madrid.”
At around 4:50 p.m., the organizers finally pull the plug and ask the spectators to leave the site. The remaining matches of the day are canceled. Grigor Dimitrov has to wait any further.