From affecting Rafael Nadal's retirement plans to postponing end of 2024 season: How Malaga floods could impact tennis world
Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, and other leading stars of the sport are set to be in Spain in the coming days. However, the country has been hit with another weather calamity, with Malaga being the center of the catastrophe this time. People have been evacuated amidst the torrential downpour and flooding, and the extreme conditions are expected to last until Friday, November 15.
Tennis is also caught in the middle of the crossfire, as Malaga is the venue for two events to wrap up the year. The Billie Jean King Cup Finals is currently underway from November 13-20, and the men will arrive there for the Davis Cup Finals after that, which will be held from November 19-24.
The first day of the Billie Jean King Cup was already washed out following a red alert on Tuesday, November 12. The tie between Spain and Poland was supposed to kick off the competition on Wednesday but was pushed to Friday in light of the severe weather conditions.
The order of play for Thursday will proceed as usual, though organizers are constantly monitoring the situation for any adverse conditions. Should there be no respite from the heavy rains, the Davis Cup could also be affected. The tournament is 22-time Major Champion Nadal's farewell event as well.
Postposing the event would be the ideal scenario if the weather doesn't improve. The worst-case scenario would be having to move the tournament elsewhere, which would be quite disappointing for the home fans, who would've loved to see Nadal bid adieu to the sport right in front of them.
Spain had only begun to recover from the devastating floods that hit the country last month, which claimed over 200 lives between October 29-30 in Valencia. While the latest turn of events isn't expected to be as deadly, it is still a stressful event to experience.
Paula Badosa to donate her winnings from the Billie Jean King Cup to those affected by the floods in Valencia
Paula Badosa has been among one of the leading players to come out of Spain in recent years. She has been devastated by what her compatriots have gone through in recent weeks. In a humanitarian gesture, she will donate half of her earnings from the Billie Jean King Cup to those affected by the floods in Valencia.
"I really want to represent my country but without forgetting what is truly important right now. I am going to donate 50% of my prize money from this tie to the people affected by DANA in Valencia. Much encouragement to all those people🇪🇸❤️ See you on Wednesday," - Paula Badosa on X (Translated from Spanish).
Badosa will lead the Spanish contingent and will open their campaign against Poland. She will take on five-time Major champion Iga Swiatek in her singles tie, and a win could turn the tide in their favor.