Coco Gauff has done it again—winning hearts both on and off the court! The American sensation, known for her dazzling performances and heartfelt gestures, is proving once more why she’s a fan favorite. After cruising through her first-round match at the Australian Open, Gauff didn’t just celebrate her victory. She used the moment to send a powerful, emotional message. Turning the spotlight away from herself, Gauff expressed her unwavering support for the victims of the devastating LA wildfires.

The American tennis sensation played her first match against Sofia Kenin on Monday. With immense dominance, she baffled the fellow American star in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. But besides her sensational victory, what further caught the attention of the tennis community was the emotional gesture that came from Gauff, as she reiterated her constant support for the victims of the firestorms that have kept the LA county ablaze for several days. 

Soon after her on-court interview, Gauff headed to the camera and extended her wishes for the victims of the wildfire. She also paid tribute to the relief providers and wrote, “Stay strong LA ♥️♥️ Thank you firefighters!” Remember, firestorms have left a trail of devastation in LA County and have claimed at least 24 precious lives so far. Besides, over 10,000 structures have turned into rubble forcing more than 153,000 people to evacuate their homes. The insured losses are expected to be somewhere over $8 billion, making it one of the worst tragedies witnessed in the history of LA. 

This is not the first time that Coco Gauff has extended her prayers for the grieving community. In a video statement, she earlier said, “I would like to just send my thoughts and prayers to all those affected by this fire and send my biggest thank you to the firefighters and first responders who are out there and fighting these fires. Especially the incarcerated firefighters who aren’t getting paid as much.” For the unversed, close to 783 inmates who received training from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation were deployed to the fields to fight the blaze, per Forbes.

Gauff further pledged financial support and added, “We appreciate you and we love you, and yeah, Stay strong Southern California. Just know I’ll be there to support and donate and help rebuild.” But Gauff is not the only tennis entity to rise in response to the catastrophe that has unfolded in the United States. Joining her is also Donna Vekic, who performed a similar gesture at the Australian Open.

Besides Coco Gauff, Donna Vekic extends wishes as tributes pour out for LA

Croatian tennis star Donna Vekic started her Australian Open campaign with a remarkable 6-4, 6-4 win over France’s Diane Parry on Sunday. However, she did not let her victory overshadow her concerns for the affected communities in LA. She engaged in a heartwarming gesture after her match, similar to what Coco Gauff did on Monday.

After her first-round win, Vekic approached the courtside camera and penned a simple yet powerful word on it. “❤️ LA,” her message read. This came shortly after her coach and mentor Pam Shriver announced her inability to make it to Melbourne as she stayed back to assist her family and manage the impact of the fires. When asked about her absence, Vekic said, “It’s a very difficult situation for her. She’s home in LA, her house is okay for now, but so many have lost everything, and it’s a very horrible situation.” Continuing further she prayed for everything to return to normalcy. 

“We were doing our preseason in LA this year, so we were just there two weeks ago. I really cannot believe what’s happening. We’re very sad that she’s not here with us. We really miss her, and I hope everything will be okay.” Now, with Gauff showcasing similar gestures, the tennis community is highlighting the need to stand united amidst adversity. Whether they are serving aces or serving kindness, one thing is clear: the WTA stars aren’t just playing for titles.