Swiatek helps Poland oust host Spain from Billie Jean King Cup Finals

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Iga Swiatek beat Paula Badosa in three sets and Poland led Spain by an insurmountable 2-0 in the opening round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Friday.

The world No. 2 Swiatek sealed Poland's spot in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic after No. 12 Badosa was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1 on the indoor hard-court.

Badosa scrapped to get back in the match by winning the second-set tiebreaker. But Swiatek roared back with a dominant third set and a break advantage of 8-3.

The match was delayed late in the third set for what organizers called a “medical incident” that apparently took place among the spectators inside Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes.

“She pushed me," Swiatek said. "There was a lot of pressure in the tiebreaker and it went her way, but I knew I could get back in it in the third set.”

She underscored the importance of Magda Linette’s opening win in the tie.

“We both did it, and also the whole Polish team,” the five-time Grand Slam winner said after making her BJK Finals debut.

Linette took nearly fours to put down Sara Sorribes 7-6 (8), 2-6, 6-4.

Linette faced a 3-0 deficit in the decisive set but regrouped and finished off Sorribes. Linette hit more winners, 55-12, while also making 79 unforced errors to Sorribes’ 26.

Britain and Germany will also face off in the opening round later on Friday.

On Thursday, Slovakia beat the United States, while Japan defeated Romania.

The match between Spain and Poland was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was pushed back two days due to heavy rain in southern Spain which caused some flooding in Malaga. Authorities in Spain are on high alert after massive flash floods claimed more than 200 lives last month.

The BJK Cup Finals and the Davis Cup Finals are taking place at the same venue in the southern Spanish city.

Rafael Nadal trained on Friday for the men’s competition beginning next week, which he has said will be his last competition before he retires.

This is the first time the women’s team tournament is taking 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.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Spain's Rafael Nadal takes part in a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal gestures during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal takes part in a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spain's Rafael Nadal takes part during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spain's Sara Sorriber Tormo returns the ball against Poland's Magda Linette during the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Magda Linette competes against Spain's Sara Sorriber Tormo during the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Magda Linette returns the ball against Spain's Sara Sorriber Tormo during the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AP) — Belize issued tropical storm warnings for the Central American country's coast on Friday as Tropical Storm Sara moved through the Caribbean, dousing Honduras' northern coast with heavy rain.

Sustained rain fell overnight in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, but there were no signs of serious flooding yet.

Sara was forecast to drop 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 centimeters) of rain, with up to 30 inches (75 centimeters) in isolated areas in northern Honduras. The heavy rain could lead to life-threatening flooding and landslides, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Sara hit land late Thursday about 105 miles (165 kilometers) west-northwest of the Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduras-Nicaragua border, the National Hurricane Center reported. That is near Brus Laguna, a village of about 13,000 inhabitants. There are few other population centers nearby.

But Sara moved back out into the Caribbean overnight and by Friday morning it was located just south of the island of Roatan, a small-scale tourism destination.

The hurricane center said the storm was located about 175 miles (280 kilometers) east-southeast of Belize City and was moving west at 5 mph (7 kph), with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph).

The storm was expected to continue to slow down and possibly strengthen slightly, but remain roughly on that path and threaten Belize's coast over the weekend.

The storm was then expected to turn northwesterly and drench Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. But forecasters said it probably won't reemerge into the Gulf after crossing the Yucatan.

“What remains of the system when it emerges into the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico is not very favorable for redevelopment,” according to the hurricane center.

Mexican authorities warned that it could cause “intense rains” over the resort-studded Yucatan Peninsula.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

A bridge stand over the Chamelecón river during rains brought on by tropical storm Sara in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

A man walks to his work place during rains brought on by tropical storm Sara in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Motorcyclists cover themselves with plastic sheets during rains brought on by tropical storm Sara in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

People cross a pedestrian bridge during rains brought on by tropical storm Sara in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

A man rides his bicycle during rains brought on by Tropical Storm Sara in La Lima, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Storm clouds descend over the Francisco Morazan stadium during rains brought on by Tropical Storm Sara in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Storm clouds descend over the Francisco Morazan stadium during rains brought on by Tropical Storm Sara in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

A motorcyclist rides on a street flooded by rains brought on by Tropical Storm Sara in La Lima, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

This GOES-East GeoGolor satellite image taken Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at 1:03 p.m. EST and provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Tropical Storm Sara. (CIRA/NOAA via AP)