Tennis Industry Digest #1: Madrid Open blackout and Wimbledon’s record profit
Key developments in tennis and the business behind it — April 28 to May 4.
Inside the game
Historic blackout halts play in Madrid. On April 28, 2025, an unprecedented event occurred at the Madrid Masters: a massive power outage affected both Spain and Portugal, halting all matches. The blackout disrupted electronic refereeing systems, lighting, and even cameras, making it impossible to continue play.
Some players, like Mirra Andreeva, had to judge their own line calls, while others, including Grigor Dimitrov and Jacob Fernley, were forced to suspend play. Organizers canceled all remaining matches for the day, and players and spectators were confined to the darkened rooms of the Caja Mágica, where candles were used for lighting.
This was a historic first in tennis — not just the courts, but the entire region was affected, making it the first time professional matches were played virtually “blind.” For tournament organizers, sponsors, and infrastructure providers, this event raises serious questions about contingency planning and technical resilience.
Ruud breaks through, Draper makes history. The men’s final was a surprising one: Kasper Ruud faced Jack Draper. With both Jannik Sinner and the injured Carlos Alcaraz absent — the latter withdrawing from his home tournament — it seemed like an easy path for Alexander Zverev. But Zverev lacked the mental resilience at critical moments, and it remains uncertain how the German will progress if he still aspires to win a Grand Slam title.
Ruud, on the other hand, has finally overcome the “curse” of smaller tournaments. Before this, his biggest title was an ATP 500 — and that came only in 2024, despite him already being a three-time Grand Slam finalist. Now, with this long-awaited Masters win, he truly earned it. Kasper has been the leader in clay-court victories since 2020, with 125 wins under his belt.
Jack Draper is already becoming a legend in British tennis — he’s only the second Brit after Andy Murray to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final. Although he still faces some physical challenges, it’s clear that he and his team are addressing them. Jack looks stronger and more muscular than before. If he can stay injury-free, why not aim for a Grand Slam final this year?
Sabalenka wins third Madrid title. Aryna Sabalenka claimed her third Madrid Masters title, defeating American Coco Gauff in straight sets. Gauff had a solid opportunity to turn the match around in the second set, but her serve let her down at key moments. This remains her biggest weakness — despite being capable of serving at 123 mph, she sometimes produces back-to-back double faults or struggles to land a basic first serve.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, looks like the top contender heading into Roland Garros. Still, players like Ostapenko, Keys, and Andreeva have already shown this year that the Belarusian can be outplayed with the right tactics. Additionally, the much slower clay courts in Paris have never suited Sabalenka’s powerful game as well as Madrid’s quicker surface. So don’t rule out the possibility of a surprise champion this year.
Sinner returns after suspension. Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension officially ended on May 5. The Italian will make his return at his home tournament — the Rome Masters. Despite the pressure surrounding the doping investigation, Sinner managed to win the Australian Open earlier this year, showing impressive mental strength. Still, questions remain about how his form will hold up now that the verdict is final.
Given the current unpredictability on the men’s tour, Sinner is well-positioned to reclaim his dominance. His return is closely watched not just by fans, but by sponsors and broadcasters invested in his growing market appeal — particularly in Italy and across Europe.
Rain, protest and tension: Kostiuk vs Sabalenka. A controversial moment at the Madrid quarter-final between Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk sparked debate. At 5–4 in Kostyuk’s favor during the second-set tiebreak, rain began to fall. After a missed first serve, Sabalenka requested to suspend play. The umpire initially refused, but eventually halted the match when Sabalenka refused to continue.
When play resumed, Sabalenka was allowed to start with a first serve — prompting protests from Kostyuk, who argued she should have resumed with a second serve. Sabalenka went on to win 7–6(4), 7–6(7), while Kostyuk declined the post-match handshake.
Known for her principled stance, Kostyuk has consistently refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The incident highlights the ongoing challenge for organizers navigating politically charged moments on court.
Uchijima’s breakout stuns Jabeur and Pegula. Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima turned heads at the Madrid Open with a breakout performance. In the second round, she stunned former world No. 2 Ons Jabeur in three sets, and then cruised past third seed Jessica Pegula in just 1 hour and 19 minutes in the round of 16. Uchijima has firmly established herself as a rising name to watch on the tour.
Her performance is especially notable for sponsors and federations looking to strengthen their presence in the growing Asian tennis market. All eyes will be on her at the upcoming Rome Masters.
Inside the Industry
Wimbledon delivers record £50 million to British tennis. The 2024 edition of Wimbledon generated a record profit of £54.3 million, resulting in a £49.85 million payment to the LTA under its agreement with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), which transfers 90% of its surplus to the national governing body each year.
“Despite rainy conditions during the tournament, Wimbledon delivered a record surplus for the LTA,” the annual report noted. Notably, the tournament secured $124.7 million in sponsorship revenue across 17 deals in 2024 and peaked at 7.5 million UK viewers on the BBC.
BNP Paribas extends title sponsorship of Indian Wells through 2029. The French banking group has renewed its title sponsorship of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells through 2029, becoming the longest-running title sponsor in the tournament’s history. First signed in 2009, the partnership has played a key role in elevating the event, which has since experienced strong attendance growth and was named ATP and WTA “Tournament of the Year” for ten consecutive seasons.
“For our clients and employees, the BNP Paribas Open is the premier tennis event in the region. This new agreement ensures the tournament continues to attract the world’s best players, deliver a world-class fan experience, and contribute to the Coachella Valley economy — including support for the next generation of players,” said José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas.
WTA achieves record social media engagement in Q1 2025. The WTA saw a surge in digital performance in Q1 2025, doubling its total engagement year-over-year. In March alone, WTA platforms generated 263 million video views.
The momentum was driven by the rollout of WTA’s new “Sunshine Double” branding at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open presented by Itaú, along with compelling storylines both on and off the court. By the end of March, the WTA’s official social media channels had grown to 6.9 million followers — a 25% increase over the previous year.
Former Amazon executive Jeff Blackburn named CEO of Tennis Channel. Sinclair Inc. has announced that media and tech veteran Jeff Blackburn has been appointed Chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel. In this role, Blackburn will lead strategic growth and expand the network’s presence across digital, streaming, and international platforms.
At Amazon, Blackburn was a key architect of the company’s expansion into streaming and live sports, and played a central role in building several of its most successful businesses, including Prime Video.
“Jeff’s appointment marks a pivotal step in our strategy to accelerate the growth of Tennis Channel and unlock long-term value across Sinclair’s portfolio,” said Chris Ripley, President and CEO of Sinclair Inc. The company expects Blackburn’s leadership to deepen audience engagement and capitalize on global sports and streaming trends as Tennis Channel pursues direct-to-consumer expansion.
Wilson unveils 2025 Roland Garros collection. The brand has launched its annual limited-edition Roland Garros collection to mark its fifth year as an official partner of the tournament. The 2025 line includes tennis rackets, balls, bags, and backpacks inspired by the colors and textures of the iconic Parisian clay courts.
This year’s lineup features the Clash 100 V3 racket, the Roland Garros 2025 Super Tour 9 Pack bag — designed to carry up to nine rackets — as well as a selection of accessories and tennis balls customized for the event.
WTA achieves record social media engagement in Q1 2025. Digital performance across the women’s tour surged in Q1 2025, with total engagement doubling year-over-year. In March alone, its platforms generated 263 million video views.
The momentum was driven by the rollout of the tour’s new “Sunshine Double” branding at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open presented by Itaú, along with compelling storylines both on and off the court. By the end of March, the official social media channels had grown to 6.9 million followers — a 25% increase over the previous year.
Oshee launches functional drinks featuring Iga Świątek. Polish brand Oshee has released a new line of functional beverages and snacks co-branded with world No. 1 Iga Świątek. The range includes vitamin water, isotonic drinks, mineral water, and protein bars, with the athlete directly involved in product development and integration into her training diet.
The Iga Team partnership, which began in 2023, has evolved into a strategic brand collaboration. The launch generated strong media attention in Poland, with coverage across sports and lifestyle outlets and reviews from prominent food bloggers.
WTA returns to São Paulo after 25 years. The tournament will debut on September 8 on outdoor hard courts, replacing the Jasmin Open previously held in Monastir, Tunisia. This marks the WTA’s return to Brazil’s largest city for the first time since the 2000 Brasil Open.
The event is expected to offer new opportunities for brands targeting the South American market and give players a chance to earn points in a high-population, media-friendly urban center — one with stronger infrastructure and greater spectator interest than Monastir.
