Swiatek and Sabalenka power into
Madrid quarterfinals a day after blackout. Top seed Zverev loses
[April 30, 2025]
By TALES AZZONI
MADRID (AP) — Power was restored at the Caja Magica tennis complex
Tuesday and the Madrid Open resumed with a packed schedule that
included second-ranked Iga Swiatek advancing to the quarterfinals
after a “more relaxed” day because of the blackout.
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka made into the last eight by defeating
Peyton Stearns in straight sets, while on the men's side, top-seeded
Alexander Zverev was upset by 21st-ranked Francisco Cerundolo of
Argentina.
Following the major blackout that prompted 22 matches to be
postponed on Monday, Swiatek returned to the center court and
defeated Diana Shnaider 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to stay on track to defend
her title in the Spanish capital.
“I liked yesterday. I think the whole world was just more relaxed,
kind of, obviously the people who didn't lose because of this," she
said. “I enjoyed the time off, and I tried to just recover, because
we need to savor these free days, for sure.”
Swiatek said she took away food from the tournament site and relaxed
at the hotel until the power came back on.
“I just chilled and used that time to not think about what I should
do,” she said. "There was no signal, so basically no one used their
phones. It was nice, I liked it.”
Most parts of Madrid regained power overnight, but the Caja Magica
was still without electricity early Tuesday, causing a delay in the
opening of the gates for fans.
The power came back quickly, though, and organizers did not have to
alter the day’s schedule of matches, although there was the
possibility of the night session being delayed because of the high
number of matches during the day.
Swiatek to face Keys
Swiatek cruised in the first set but had to save 11 of 13 break
points to seal a hard-fought victory against the 13th-seeded
Shnaider.
Swiatek has not lost before the quarterfinals in seven tournaments
this season but hasn't gone past the semifinals since Roland Garros
last year. She will next face Madison Keys, who defeated Donna Vekic
6-2, 6-3.
It will be Swiatek's first meeting with Keys since she lost despite
having match point in the semifinals of the Australian Open that was
won by Keys.
“We played last year here, but I think it was a night session or
something,” Swiatek said. “I don’t know, I think it was like colder
or a little bit different, so for sure we’ll watch that match.”
Sabalenka reaches last eight again
Sabalenka defeated 44th-ranked Stearns 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the
Madrid quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years.
It was the WTA Tour-leading 28th win this season for the two-time
Madrid champion. She was tied with Jessica Pegula with 27.
Sabalenka lost last year's final to Swiatek.
Zverev ousted
Cerundolo defeated the second-ranked Zverev 7-5, 6-3 to continue his
quick rise in the rankings.
Cerundolo, who also defeated Zverez last year in Madrid, broke serve
once in each set and saved the only break opportunity he conceded at
center court.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, blows a kiss after defeating United
States' Peyton Stearns during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in
Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Zverev was coming off the title in Munich and will
move on to defend his title in Rome.
“He played better than me today," Zverev said. “He definitely played
better than me last year when we played here. But to be honest, I
didn’t play terrible, he just played better than me.”
Berrettini out with injury
In the men's side, 31st-ranked Matteo Berrettini withdrew with an
abdominal injury after losing the first set 7-6 (2) to sixth-ranked
Jack Draper.
Sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur tied Carlos Alcaraz with a tour-leading
24th win this season by getting past Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (3).
The seventh-ranked De Minaur will next face Lorenzo Musetti, who
beat 2019 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe both won their matches. The
11th-seeded Paul defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, while the
16th-seeded Tiafoe beat Alexandre Muller 6-3, 6-3.
Paul was among the players having to play doubles on the same day as
their singles matches. Another was 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, the
Miami winner who defeated Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2 before having to
play his doubles match on the same court a bit later.
The 27-year-old Bublik joked in a conversation with the match's
referee during a changeover.
"Remember when tennis was easy? Like five years ago it was super
easy to play tennis,” the four-time winner on tour said. “A bunch of
random people in the top 50, barely moving. Now this guy is not even
top 5, not even top 10. What is that?”
Ninth-seed Daniil Medvedev matched his career-best result in Madrid
by reaching the last eight with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over
American Brandon Nakashima. Fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz was another
American eliminated, losing 7-5, 6-4 to Casper Ruud.
Refunds for ticket holders
There were huge lines outside the complex, and people with tickets
for Monday's matches were not allowed back in on Tuesday.
“Nobody said anything yet,” said Juan Duato, who was denied entry
when he arrived on Monday during the power outage. “They said we
couldn't come in and asked us to contact customer support.
Apparently they will send us an email.”
Organizers said later Tuesday that anyone who purchased tickets for
Monday would receive a full refund for the purchase. That process
would be carried out automatically over the next few days.
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