On Monday, April 28, 2025, a widespread power outage impacted Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, disrupting numerous sports events and leaving thousands of athletes and fans in uncertainty. The outage, which started around 12:30 p.m. local time, led to event suspensions and the closure of sports facilities across the region.

Tennis: Mutua Madrid Open Interrupted

One of the most affected events was the Mutua Madrid Open, where several matches in progress were abruptly suspended. The match between Grigor Dimitrov and Jacob Fearnley on the main court was halted when the stadium was plunged into darkness, leaving both players and spectators uncertain. At the same time, the clash between Damir Dzumhur and Matteo Arnaldi on the Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Court was also interrupted.

Before the outage, some women’s matches were completed. Mirra Andreeva defeated Yulia Starodubtseva, while Coco Gauff overcame Belinda Bencic. However, Gauff's post-match interview was cut short by the blackout, leaving the venue in darkness.

Basketball: EuroLeague Tense Amid Uncertainty

The outage also created tension in the basketball world. The Greek team Olympiacos had just arrived in Madrid to face Real Madrid in a EuroLeague matchup scheduled for Tuesday. Although the game is still officially on, the lack of electricity and internet services has complicated logistics and communications, raising concerns about the event’s viability.

Other Sports Events Affected

Beyond tennis and basketball, other sports activities were impacted. In Albacete, the local Sports Gala organized by the Diputación had to be postponed due to the ongoing power issues.

In short, the massive power outage across Europe had a considerable impact on the sports scene, suspending events and creating widespread disruption. Organizers and authorities are now working to reschedule affected competitions and ensure the safety of athletes and fans.