Naomi Osaka and Other Players Support LA Amid Fires

Naomi Osaka a four-time Grand Slam champion, revealed at the Australian Open that devastating wildfires were just three blocks from her Los Angeles home. After her 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Caroline Garcia in the first round, Naomi Osaka expressed concern for her family. She shared how she had someone retrieve her daughter’s birth certificate in case the fires reached her home. “I’m sending all my love to LA, and I hope everyone’s doing OK,” she said, reflecting on the magnitude of the fires.

Other players including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek, dedicated their first-round wins to Los Angeles and the firefighters battling the flames. Gauff, one of the title favorites, wrote “stay strong LA, thank you firefighters” on the camera lens after her 6-3, 6-3 win over Sofia Kenin. Pegula showed support by drawing a love heart and writing “LA” on the lens after a dominant victory while Swiatek sent her love to Malibu and LA following her 6-3, 6-4 win over Katarina Siniakova.

The wildfires, which began on January 7, have become the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history with 24 confirmed deaths and 16 people still missing. Donna Vekic coached by Pam Shriver also sent her support to the city after her first-round win, as Shriver stayed in LA to assist her family during the crisis. In other first-round action, 10th seed Danielle Collins triumphed over Daria Snigur 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 while Belinda Bencic, playing her first Grand Slam match since giving birth, defeated 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).