"I think there'll be no Billie Jean King Cup at all" - Fans shocked as tournament ft. Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu gets disrupted by flood
Several fans reacted to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals being disrupted by the ongoing floods in Malaga. Heavy rains have engulfed the Spanish city and as a result, the tie between Poland and Spain has been postponed to November 15.
Malaga is the most recent city in the Iberian nation to be affected by floods, shortly after Valencia, where floods claimed the lives of over 200 people. Spain vs. Poland was scheduled for November 13 and would have featured the likes of Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa, but that fixture will take place two days after its original date.
"Due to a severe weather alert issued by local and regional authorities, the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals first round tie between Spain and Poland, originally scheduled for today, November 13 at 5pm, has been postponed. The tie will now take place on Friday, November 15, starting at 10am," a statement from the Billie Jean King Cup read.
Several fans reacted to the disruption of the tournament due to the floods in Malaga, with one individual questioning why the female tennis players were set to play in "temporary makeshift venues."
"Why the ladies always in temporary makeshift venues," the fan commented.
One fan called the current situation regarding the Billie Jean King Cup an "organisational joke".
"Organisational joke this all what it is," the fan said.
Another fan said that people in Malaga would not be thinking about the tennis matches taking place in the city.
"Yeah, I doubt tennis will be on people's mind in Malaga this week," the fan said.
Here are some more fan reactions:
"I think there'll be no BJK cup at all," one fan stated.
"You know we talk about rain following tennis everywhere it goes, but an indoor event getting rained out is truly next level. I hope that everyone in Malaga stays safe," a fan said.
"Oh god please stay safe everybody who is there," another fan said.
A total of 12 teams are competing in the Billie Jean King Cup knockouts
A look at the draw for the knockout rounds of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals ft. Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu
Out of the 12 teams, defending champions Canada, Australia, Czech Republic and Italy have received a bye to the quarterfinals and the remaining eight teams will fight for the other four spots.
Germany will take on Great Britain, with the winner taking on Canada in the last eight. 2023 runners-up Australia will face either the United States or Slovakia, while the Czech Republic will take on whoever wins the postponed match between Spain and Poland. Italy will face either Japan or Romania in the quarterfinals.
Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek, Paula Badosa, Danielle Collins, Jasmine Paolini and Leylah Fernandez are some of the well-known names in tennis who are representing their respective countries at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga.