(CNN) — After profitable her first spherical match at this yr’s Australian Open, Coco Gauff despatched a message again to Los Angeles the place the wildfires proceed to trigger widespread devastation.
Firefighters are actually mentioned to be in a vital stage of their nearly week-long battle in opposition to deadly blazes across LA County. Crews have reported progress however officers say the hearth risk will stay very excessive as harmful winds return this week.
Officers say that not less than 24 folks have died, and dozens are lacking.
US star Gauff beat her compatriot Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3 on Sunday, earlier than writing on a digicam lens as she made her means off the court docket: “Keep sturdy LA, thanks firefighters.”
Gauff is among the favorites to win the title in Melbourne and made gentle work of what might have been a difficult opening spherical.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, beat Gauff at Wimbledon 18 months in the past however a lot has modified since then. The 20-year-old is now in nice kind and is the main gentle for the US at this yr’s grand slam.
“It was a tricky match for me right now. I knew stepping into it was going to be troublesome, however I’m pleased with how I performed,” Gauff mentioned in her post-match interview.
“I possibly might’ve served some second serves higher however I used to be struggling to see the ball so I’m simply pleased I used to be in a position to handle by means of that right now.”
Gauff will play Britain’s Jodie Burrage within the subsequent spherical.
Whereas the fires haven’t stopped America’s high stars from collaborating within the first grand slam of the brand new season, it has impacted among the gamers on the match. Croatian star Donna Vekic, as an illustration, is competing in Australia with out her coach Pam Shriver, who’s again in LA supporting her household.
Shriver, a former US tennis star, wrote on Instagram that her home was nonetheless standing however that she was staying in a resort room.
“It’s a really troublesome state of affairs for her,” Vekic informed reporters after beating France’s Diane Parry on Sunday.
“She’s house in LA. Her home is OK for now, however so many have misplaced the whole lot, and it’s a horrible state of affairs.”
Prime gamers by means of
Gauff is joined within the subsequent spherical of the match by compatriot Jessica Pegula, who thrashed Australian wildcard Maya Joint 6-3 6-0 in a dominant show on Sunday.
In the meantime, world No. 2 Iga Świątek regarded spectacular as she beat Czech participant Kateřina Siniaková in straight units.
After the sport, Świątek additionally wrote a message to these impacted by the wildfires. “Sending my like to Malibu and LA,” she scribbled on a digicam lens on the aspect of the court docket.
There have been additionally no surprises for among the favorites within the males’s draw as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner beat Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in straight units to succeed in the second spherical and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz additionally made gentle work of his opening match, beating Alexander Shevchenko with out dropping a set.
Nevertheless, eleventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, a finalist in Melbourne two years in the past, suffered a shock defeat in opposition to American Alex Michelsen as he misplaced 7-5 6-3 2-6 6-4.
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