After enjoying blackout, Iga Swiatek advances over Diana Shnaider in Madrid

Iga Swiatek took only positives from the massive power outage that affected millions across Spain, Portugal and parts of France, making the most of an extra day to prepare for her fourth-round match against Diana Shnaider after the ensuing blackout canceled play at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday.

Read more: Madrid Open matches suspended due to major power outage

“Honestly, I liked yesterday,” confessed the former world No. 1 after opening play with a 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4 win over Shnaider, the No. 13 seed. “I think the whole world was more relaxed…I had time to rest, so I really used that.”

I just chilled and used that time to not think about what I should do, if I should text or contact, because there was so signal. So basically, no one used their phones. It was nice, I liked it. Iga Swiatek on Madrid's Monday blackout

Nearly all matches were postponed due to the still-unexplained outage that caused nationwide chaos and confusion, but the resumption of power Monday evening meant the defending champion would be back on Manolo Santana Stadium in the hopes of winning her 25th match of the 2025 season on Tuesday.

Read more: Players react to Madrid blackout

“It’s good that in Madrid the sun is setting pretty late,” said Swiatek, who will next face Australian Open champion Madison Keys. “As soon as it got down and it was dark, they put the energy back in our area, so honestly, I just chilled and used that time to not think about what I should do, if I should text or contact, because there was so signal. So basically, no one used their phones. It was nice, I liked it.”

Swiatek stormed through the opening set without losing a game. She suffered a second-set hiccup as Shnaider, who recently hired former world No. 1 Dinara Safina as her coach, forced a decider in a tiebreaker, but No. 2 seed scored a crucial break in the fifth game of the third. As the match ticked past the two-and-a-half-hour mark, Swiatek held on to secure victory and return to the last eight.

“Today was a tricky day, so I’m happy I’m through. For sure, Diana played well, so I’m happy I found a way even though in the second set I started to play a bit worse than the first.

“When it’s getting hotter, you need to control the ball a little bit more. I’m through to the quarters so I guess you can say I adjusted. I’m happy I’ll have another chance to play here.”

Swiatek is in the midst of a high-pressure part of her season, having gone undefeated through the clay-court trio of Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros last spring. Despite three tough opponents in Shnaider, Linda Noskova, and Alexandra Eala, the 23-year-old is into her seventh quarterfinal of the season, putting her two wins from a first final of the year.

Keys will provide a rematch of their dramatic semifinal in Melbourne, which the American won in three sets en route to her first major title, but Swiatek leads their head-to-head 4-2, three of those wins coming on clay.