Power Outage Delays Madrid Open Quarterfinal Matches

Madrid, Spain — Following Monday’s power outage at the Mutua Madrid Open, fourth-round matches are set to resume on what was supposed to be quarterfinal Wednesday. Players Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Arnaldi, Grigor Dimitrov, and Gabriel Diallo will compete for a spot in the next round.

Tiafoe and Arnaldi will face off for the second time in their careers. Their first encounter in the 2024 Wimbledon first round ended with Tiafoe staging a remarkable comeback from two sets down to win 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Both players have struggled this season but show promise on clay, with Tiafoe reaching the final in Houston and defeating Luciano Darderi and Alexandre Muller in straight sets in Madrid. Arnaldi has also found success, overcoming Borna Coric and Damir Dzumhur in previous matches.

The matchup is particularly favorable for Arnaldi on clay, potentially allowing him to capitalize on Tiafoe’s inconsistent form this season.

In the other match, Canada’s Gabriel Diallo is enjoying a breakout performance at the Madrid Masters. After entering the main draw due to Yoshihito Nishioka‘s withdrawal, the 23-year-old has already secured victories against Zizou Bergs and Cameron Norrie. Diallo’s first match against Dimitrov will be a tough challenge, despite his impressive run through the tournament.

Dimitrov, ranked 33 and a semifinalist in Brisbane and Miami, seems fully recovered from past injuries, winning his first two matches in straight sets. His experience and skill on clay are expected to give him an edge over Diallo, who is still gaining experience at this level.

Both matches promise exciting tennis action as players vie for a chance to advance in the tournament.