Jacob Fearnley’s journey at the Madrid Open ended in dramatic and unusual fashion, as he bowed out following a hard-fought loss to Grigor Dimitrov. In only his second clay-court tournament, Fearnley who only turned professional less than a year ago found himself competing not only against a seasoned opponent but also against a bizarre set of circumstances that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula.
With Dimitrov leading 6-4, 5-4 during their match at the Manolo Santana Stadium, play was abruptly suspended due to a massive power outage that struck Spain and Portugal. The blackout brought life in Madrid to a halt, cutting off electricity and mobile internet for hours and forcing all tennis matches to be postponed. Fearnley had to wait more than 24 hours before stepping back onto the court to serve at 4-5 in the second set an unusually long and mentally taxing pause in play. “It’s impossible not to overthink it,” he admitted.
Electricity was eventually restored to Madrid late Monday night, and power returned to the Caja Mágica by 8am on Tuesday, just in time for the day’s matches to resume by noon. Fearnley managed to hold his nerve during the first game after the restart, avoiding an immediate break. However, he couldn’t quite regain the rhythm that had carried him through qualifying and an earlier victory over top-20 player Tomas Machac. He went on to lose 6-4, 7-6 (3), though he left with his head held high. “I was pleased with the way I handled the situation. Maybe I played that game a little bit too much in my head,” he reflected.
The outage turned the tournament grounds into a surreal setting. Players were caught off guard in various ways. Some, like Frances Tiafoe, were waiting for their matches when the lights went out. The atmosphere turned into something of a candle-lit gathering as staff placed candles on tables in the player restaurant, initially thinking the disruption would be brief. But as the blackout’s scale became clear affecting not just Spain but also parts of France and Italy the surrealism deepened. “They kept adding candles, saying more countries were out. I said, ‘Well, stop putting candles on the table,’” Tiafoe joked.
Others hadn’t yet arrived at the venue. Alex de Minaur chose not to travel to the grounds at all, opting instead for a relaxed day. Jack Draper, scheduled for a late match, found himself walking 15 flights of stairs back to his hotel room before facing a long car ride to the venue, followed by a simple meal of a sandwich and a light training session.
Food was in limited supply at the venue, but players made do. Bread became a staple, with some players joking about their basic meals. Tiafoe quipped that he “ate complete junk,” relying mostly on chocolate to get through the evening. Despite the circumstances, most players maintained a calm perspective, focusing on the positives and their well-being.
For many, the blackout became just another wild chapter in the unpredictable life of a professional tennis player. Madison Keys shrugged it off with naps and quiet time, while Tiafoe summed it up with humor and perspective. Looking ahead, he imagined telling his grandchildren stories of surviving both a global pandemic and a nationwide blackout during a tennis tournament. “You young kids have been through nothing,” he joked.
