BILLIE JEAN KING CUP, ITF TO PUT FOCUS ON SPAIN FLOODS VICTIMS

AP Photo

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will begin in Malaga this week in a closer partnership with the Davis Cup and with some added attention given to the victims of the deadly floods that recently devastated eastern Spain.

It will be the first time that the women's team tournament will take place at the same venue as the Davis Cup and with overlapping dates. And for the second year in a row, it will offer equivalent prize money to the men's competition.

The women's event begins two weeks after a powerful storm caused flash floods that killed more than 200 people in the Valencia region east of Malaga.

The International Tennis Federation announced a donation to the Spanish Red Cross to support relief and recovery efforts in the region, and Spanish player Paula Badosa said she will donate half of her prize money to help the victims.

"I'm excited about representing my country, but I won't forget about what's really important in these moments," Badosa said on a social media post.

Spain takes on Iga Swiatek's Poland on the competition's first day on Tuesday, led by Badosa not long after the former second-ranked player considered retiring while dealing with a chronic back injury.

"I think it was a bit of a rollercoaster this year," Badosa said. "I'm really proud of myself, how I overcame these tough situations and also how I finished the season. I finished the year in a very high level. I'm really happy, as there was one point of the season where I was very far away from the level I wanted to be."

On Wednesday, the United States will take on Slovakia with Ashlyn Krueger replacing Jessica Pegula in Lindsay Davenport's team, which also includes Danielle Collins, Caroline Dolehide, Peyton Stearns and Taylor Townsend.

Also on Wednesday, Japan - without Naomi Osaka - plays against Romania, while on Thursday it's Germany against Britain. Defending champion Canada, Australia, Italy and the Czech Republic wait to take on the winners of those previous matchups.

Each matchup will be a best-of-three series with two singles matches and one doubles match.

Previously known as Fed Cup, the competition was rebranded in 2020 to align with former tennis star Billie Jean King.

It will end Nov. 20, while the Davis Cup will be played Nov. 19-24, with all matches taking place at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga.

- Associated Press 

VALENCIA-REAL MADRID AMONG GAMES POSTPONED AMID FATAL FLOODS

Real Madrid's LaLiga match at Valencia on Saturday has been postponed because of the deadly flash floods in Spain.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Thursday that all games this weekend in the Valencian region will be rescheduled as per LaLiga's request.

The Spanish government declared three days of mourning with at least 150 people dead and "many people" missing following the worst natural disaster to hit Spain this century.

Saturday's LaLiga game between Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano and Levante's second division home game against Malaga on Monday have also been postponed.

Valencia's city centre was affected by the flash floods. Alex Juarez/Anadolu via Getty Images

Two games in Liga F have also been cancelled, including Real Madrid's game against Levante.

LaLiga and its clubs pledged on Thursday to help raise funds for the Red Cross to support those affected by the flash floods, publicising a campaign during match broadcasts this weekend and through their social media accounts.

"Spain's professional football joins the condolences and expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims and the missing," LaLiga said in a statement on Thursday.

Real Madrid announced they would also collaborate with the Red Cross and donate €1 million ($1.09 million).

"The Real Madrid Foundation and the Red Cross have today launched a fundraising campaign to support those affected by the storm and the club have decide to support this campaign with a donation of one million euros to help the many families who are in a critical situation and need all our help and solidarity," the Spanish champions said in a statement.

Earlier this week, the RFEF rescheduled Valencia's Copa del Rey match at Parla that was due to be played on Wednesday.

Before Valencia's training session on Wednesday, the squad observed a moment of silence at its training center in honour of the victims. Some of the team's players were absent because of the transportation difficulties caused by the storms.

The club said they joined forces with the Valencia Food Bank, and their stadium became "a deposit for food and basic needs."

"Mestalla will be at the service of the city to cope with the emergency caused by the [floods]."

The death toll was expected to rise as an unknown number of people were still missing. Search efforts were ongoing and some vehicles with bodies were yet to be reached. The aftermath of the floods from late Tuesday to early Wednesday looked eerily similar to the damage left by a hurricane or tsunami, with cars piled up alongside uprooted trees and downed power lines.

LaLiga announced that a minute's silence will be observed ahead of all games to be played this weekend to show respect for the victims of the devastating flash floods.

Madrid are second in LaLiga, six points adrift of Barcelona, who host Espanyol in Sunday's city derby.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- Adriana Garcia

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