MALAGA, Spain — The inaugural match of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, featuring a competition between Spain and Poland, has been rescheduled due to a severe weather warning affecting the Malaga area.

Officials announced that the postponement was made following advice from local authorities to prioritize the safety and well-being of all athletes and spectators involved.

The opening match will now occur on Friday, alongside another matchup where Germany will compete against Britain. Meanwhile, two other competitions are set for Thursday: Japan will take on Romania, while Slovakia faces the United States.

Both the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and the men’s Davis Cup Finals are currently happening in Malaga, with the men’s tournament scheduled to start next week.

This year’s women’s event follows a devastating storm that resulted in flash flooding, causing the loss of over 200 lives in the nearby Valencia region, just a fortnight ago.

In a show of solidarity, the International Tennis Federation has pledged a financial contribution to the Spanish Red Cross to aid in relief and recovery efforts for the affected region. Spanish player Paula Badosa has also committed to donating half of her earnings from this competition to support the victims of the disaster.