MELBOURNE, Australia — On Thursday, American tennis player Taylor Fritz announced that he plans to donate the prize money he earned from his first-round win at the Australian Open, which amounts to approximately $82,000, towards relief efforts for those impacted by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles region.
“I feel like it’s really the least I can do,” explained Fritz, who was born in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and remains closely tied to the state.
“Southern California has been my home for a long time. I have spent significant time in LA and have seen the devastation first-hand. Some of my friends have been affected, while my family has faced challenges too. My brothers lost the house where they grew up, so they are no longer living there,” he shared after achieving a commanding 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 victory against Chilean qualifier Cristian Garín, advancing him to the third round at Melbourne Park.
Fritz, who was the runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open in September and is seeded fourth at this year’s Australian Open, emphasized the widespread impact of these fires. “It’s tragic to see how many people are affected by these events. If you have the means to help, you should do so,” he encouraged.
As of now, the authorities are still investigating the causes of these devastating fires, which are being recognized as one of the worst disasters in the nation’s history, claiming at least 25 lives and destroying thousands of homes.
Several other athletes connected to the Los Angeles area have also been participating in this year’s first Grand Slam tournament. Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, revealed that she had someone retrieve her daughter’s birth certificate from their California residence in case it fell victim to the flames. Tristan Boyer, a 23-year-old Californian who won his first-round match but lost on Thursday, shared that his father had to evacuate their home in Altadena.
“We have friends and family who are homeless now. Witnessing the destruction is incredibly heartbreaking,” Boyer stated. “It’s tough to focus on my match preparation while dealing with this situation, but I strive to manage what I can during this challenging time.”
Fritz’s upcoming match will be against French veteran Gael Monfils on Saturday for a chance to advance to the fourth round in Australia. He continues to think of his home situation amidst the ongoing tournament.
“I just hope everyone stays safe during this crisis. The whole situation is truly unbelievable,” Fritz remarked.
