Croatian tennis star Donna Vekic started her Australian Open campaign with a commanding 6-4, 6-4 win over France’s Diane Parry on Margaret Court Arena. It was a strong opening match, setting the tone for what she hopes will be a memorable tournament. But for Vekic, the day carried more than just the thrill of competition—her thoughts were with her coach, Pam Shriver, and the devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.

Shriver, who has been working with Vekic as a mentor and coach, could not make it to Melbourne this year. Instead, she stayed in Los Angeles to assist her family and manage the impact of the fires. Just hours before Vekic’s match, Shriver shared her situation on X, praising the firefighters and first responders risking their lives to control the blazes. “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,” she wrote.

The World No.18 was asked about Shriver and the situation in LA in a post-match conference. In her response she 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.” She further added, “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.”

As fires continue to devastate Los Angeles, the statistics paint a grim picture. The Palisades Fire alone has scorched over 38,000 acres, forcing mass evacuations and causing significant property damage. With strong Santa Ana winds fueling the flames, firefighters face relentless challenges. Tragically, 13 lives have already been lost, and the financial toll is staggering, with insured losses estimated at $20 billion and total economic losses potentially reaching $50 billion.

Amid this tragedy, Vekic also shared a heartfelt gesture after her dominant win in the first round.

Donna Vekic sends love and support to LA from Melbourne

Donna Vekic found a way to show her solidarity after her match. As she approached the courtside camera and penned a simple yet powerful message on it, “❤️ LA.” The Croatian tennis player’s small yet heartfelt gesture was a reminder of global solidarity during times of crisis.

Vekic isn’t the only one from the tennis world lending her voice to the cause. Other players have also used their platforms to raise awareness and support relief efforts.

The American star Coco Gauff shared her support, recording a video to thank the first responders and pledge her assistance. “First, 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… 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.” she said.

Tennis great Serena Williams also expressed her heartbreak on X posting, “💔 Just praying, praying incessantly, for my family and friends… And just everyone involved.”

Alexis Ohanian, Serena’s husband, also chimed in on X, asking about the most effective organizations to donate to. “Devastating. Who are the best orgs with the least overhead aka most efficiency we should be donating to help?” he wrote.

As Los Angeles continues to grapple with the challenges brought by these devastating wildfires, acts of compassion like Vekic’s remind us all of the importance of unity during difficult times. As the tournament progresses, one can only hope for better days ahead in Los Angeles.