MADRID — The energizing ambiance at the Caja Magica tennis complex returned Tuesday as power was restored, allowing the Madrid Open to continue its thrilling tournament schedule. Second-ranked Iga Swiatek advanced boldly to the quarterfinals after a surprisingly “more relaxed” day following a blackout that had disrupted play.
In a notable performance, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Peyton Stearns in straight sets, while in a stunning upset, 21st-ranked Francisco Cerundolo knocked out the highly favored Alexander Zverev on the men’s side.
Following the significant blackout that delayed 22 matches on Monday, Swiatek returned to center court ready for action, defeating Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4, maintaining her momentum to defend her title in the vibrant Spanish capital.
“Yesterday felt great. The world seemed a bit more laid-back, especially for those who didn’t have to deal with losses,” she shared. “I enjoyed the downtime and focused on my recovery, truly embracing these rare free days.”
Swiatek took advantage of the situation by grabbing some food from the tournament site and unwinding at her hotel while awaiting power restoration.
“I just relaxed, using that time to disconnect,” she reflected. “With no signal, everyone was away from their phones. It was delightful—I truly liked it.”
While most of Madrid regained power overnight, the Caja Magica faced delays, prompting a late opening for fans on Tuesday.
Fortunately, the power resumed quickly, allowing organizers to keep the day’s match schedule intact, although the night session’s timing remained uncertain due to a full slate of matches.
Swiatek started strong, dominating the first set but had to fend off 11 of 13 break points to seal her hard-fought victory against the 13th-seeded Shnaider.
With seven tournaments this season under her belt, Swiatek has yet to lose before quarterfinals, but she hasn’t progressed past the semifinals since her triumph at Roland Garros last year. Her next challenge will be against Madison Keys, who bested Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3.
This matchup marks Swiatek’s first encounter with Keys since their gripping semifinal clash at the Australian Open, where she had a match point before falling short.
“We played last year here, but I think it was a night session or something,” Swiatek remarked, reflecting on the past. “The conditions were different back then, so we’ll definitely analyze that match.”
Sabalenka Advances to Quarterfinals Again
Sabalenka continued her impressive form, overcoming Stearns 6-2, 6-4, securing a spot in the Madrid quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years.
This marked her 28th victory of the season, placing her at the top of the WTA Tour. She was previously tied with Jessica Pegula, who has 27 wins.
Last year, Sabalenka faced defeat in the final against Swiatek.
Cerundolo continued his meteoric rise by defeating second-ranked Zverev 7-5, 6-3, showcasing a strong performance by breaking serve in each set while saving the only break point he faced.
“It was an incredibly challenging match against the world’s No. 2,” said Cerundolo, echoing confidence after his performance, having previously defeated Zverev in Madrid last year.
Despite his recent title victory in Munich, Zverev is gearing up to defend his title in Rome.
“He played exceptionally well today,” Zverev admitted. “While I didn’t play badly, he certainly outperformed me.”
Injury Withdrawal for Berrettini
On the men’s side, Matteo Berrettini withdrew due to an abdominal injury after dropping the first set 7-6 (2) against sixth-ranked Jack Draper.
Sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur tied Carlos Alcaraz with a tour-leading 24 wins this season, defeating Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (3).
The seventh-ranked De Minaur will next contend against Lorenzo Musetti, who bested 2019 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 7-6 (3).
American players Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe both secured their victories. Paul, seeded 11th, triumphed over Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, while Tiafoe defeated Alexandre Muller 6-3, 6-3.
Paul had to compete in doubles on the same day as his singles match, as did the 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, who defeated Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2 before heading into his doubles match on the same court shortly after.
Ninth-seed Daniil Medvedev matched his career-best performance in Madrid, reaching the quarterfinals with a comeback victory over American Brandon Nakashima, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Refunds for Ticket Holders
Long queues formed outside the complex, with patrons holding tickets for Monday’s matches not permitted to re-enter on Tuesday.
“There was no information provided,” stated Juan Duato, who was turned away during the power outage on Monday. “They instructed us to contact customer support. I was informed that an email would be sent regarding our tickets.”
Organizers later announced that all ticket purchasers from Monday would receive a full refund, to be processed automatically over the coming days.
