Billie Jean King Cup Finals opening match postponed after severe weather alert in Malaga

The initial tie of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals between Spain and Poland had to be postponed due to severe weather conditions in the Malaga region. This decision was made in order to prioritize the health and safety of all participants and attendees, following guidance from relevant authorities.

As a result of the postponement, the match between Spain and Poland has been rescheduled to take place on Friday, alongside the match between Germany and Britain. The severe weather alert was expected to be lifted by 2 a.m. ET on Thursday, with gates opening to the public at 5 a.m.

Organizers conducted a thorough site inspection before confirming that Thursday’s matches, which include Japan vs. Romania and the United States vs. Slovakia, could proceed as scheduled. They reassured that they would continue to monitor the weather conditions closely and provide updates if necessary.

The matches are set to be held at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena, an indoor venue in Malaga. Canada’s team, led by singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski, is gearing up to defend their Billie Jean King Cup title this week.

Canada, who received an automatic berth as the defending champion, will face either Great Britain or Germany in their opening match this Sunday at the Martin Carpena Arena. The tournament is slated to run until November 20, with Australia, Italy, and the Czech Republic also receiving first-round byes.

In last year’s tournament, Marina Stakusic and Fernandez secured singles victories to clinch Canada’s first-ever Billie Jean King Cup title. While Rebecca Marino from Vancouver returns to the team, Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, withdrew from the competition to focus on her health after dealing with injuries throughout the season.

Both the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and the upcoming Davis Cup Finals are being hosted in Malaga. The women’s event follows a devastating storm that caused flash floods, resulting in over 200 fatalities in the Valencia region. In response, the International Tennis Federation made a donation to the Spanish Red Cross for relief efforts, and Spanish player Paula Badosa pledged to donate half of her prize money to aid the storm victims.