A night in already disaster-struck Los Angeles turned completely nightmarish for American legend and Donna Vekic‘s coach Pam Shriver. Imagine waking up to find your entire life’s work being robbed away in the dead of night. That is exactly what happened when Shriver’s priceless Grand Slam trophies vanished in a sleight of hand. Shriver’s losses weren’t just shiny gold cups and medals; they were a testament to her decades of triumphs, hard-fought on-court battles, and memories that shaped the Hall of Famer player’s career. As the fraternity reels, the question remains: can Pam Shriver recover what was taken from her, and heal from this traumatic loss?

It has only been a week since the Hall of Famer legend regretfully tweeted that she could not attend her pupil Donna Vekic’s Grand Slam run in Melbourne. “With @AustralianOpen start @espn & @DonnaVekic playing later today, I am back in LA helping manage my family’s needs. The MVP athletes in charge of hitting fire targets with water dumps from helicopters and planes have been showing extraordinary hand eye skills,” wrote the renowned coach. Shriver’s reason was quite heart-wrenching. And LA resident in the Brentwood neighbourhood, Shriver suffered massively in the wildfires that have ravaged the county.

However, the string of misfortunes plaguing the ESPN analyst and the coach isn’t letting up any time soon. Shriver soon tweeted again, “My son & I are at a police station reporting our car was stolen from the hotel parking lot we evacuated to when fires started. This was the car that had most of my major trophies being stored until we could safely move back home,” she wrote on X.

This former WTA number three has won a whopping 21 Grand Slam titles in doubles events. Best known for her partnership with Martina Navratilova, the talented pair won seven Australian Open titles (1982-1985, 1987-89), five British Slam trophies (1981-84, 1987-88), five US Open titles (1983-1984, 1987-88), and four Roland Garros trophies (1984-85, 1987-88). Only Shriver’s 1991 US Open doubles victory was with Natasha Zvereva. The mementos of her victories were a tangible reminders of the American player’s dominance in the sport and her unerring commitment. Alas! fate brought a disappointing twist to her life. After her home’s destruction in the bushfire, Shriver’s priced possessions are now lost!

Previously, the legendary athlete prayed for the safety of her 23-year-old house, giving followers a peek into the havoc wreaked by the bushfires. She mentioned that she and her three children were safe, while her former husband George Lazenby was evacuated from the Pacific Palisades. “Praying for our many friends who have lost their houses & hoping winds calm soon. I am grateful I was planning on being @MaunaLaniHI for a vacation with my kids. Grateful @LazenbyReal was evacuated from Pacific Palisades & is safe. Praying for my house of 23 years,” Shriver tweeted on X.

But despite her challenges, Shriver always showed up for Vekic one way or another. Recently, when the Croatian player bagged a swift entry to the Australian Open’s third round with a great victory over Harriet Dart, Shriver confessed how minutely she followed Vekic’s performance. Her confession showcased her commitment to Vekic’s career, which has built a successful coach-pupil relationship for the duo.

Pam Shriver followed Donna Vekic’s match despite all the odds

Shriver’s pupil,  Croatian Donna Vekic, overpowered Harriet Dart in a hard-fought match, winning in three sets with a score line of 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 to enter the Grand Slam event’s third round. Though the American coach couldn’t be present in Vekic’s box, cheering her on in person, her support for Vekic remained evident.

Following the match, Shriver took to X to share the challenges she faced while trying to watch her pupil’s strokes. “Watched match point by point on AO app but could not figure out how to find it streamed in US. You don’t sweat the small stuff in LA atm,” she tweeted. Her words reflected her deep commitment to Vekic, even as she navigates personal difficulties.

This Hall of Famer coach later shared another glimpse into her circumstances, revealing how unconventional her current situation was. “I have never slept in same room as three rescue cats, but these are unusual times in LA. I am starting at 4:45am because long played with Donna’s match. Starting at 4:50 am how much sleep can I get?” she tweeted, highlighting her commitment to supporting Vekic despite all odds.

Pam Shriver’s mentorship has played a crucial role in Vekic’s career, with one of their greatest victories coming in 2024 when Vekic won her Olympic silver under Shriver’s guidance. In a cruel twist of fate, since their partnership began in 2022, Shriver has rarely been able to attend Vekic’s matches in person, yet their bond has remained strong, leading to many milestones. Now, as Vekic’s American coach continues to cheer for her from afar, her faith might just be the motivation Vekic needs to push forward and perhaps even bring home the trophy for her Hall of Famer coach. Do you think she can do it?