Gauff & Swiatek dedicate wins to LA and firefighters

Australian Open 2025

Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app

Coco Gauff dedicated her Australian Open first-round win to Los Angeles and the firefighters who have been tackling the devastating wildfires.

American third seed Gauff, one of the favourites for the title in Melbourne, beat compatriot and 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3.

Gauff wrote "stay strong LA, thank you firefighters" on the camera lens after her victory.

She and Taylor Fritz have previously donated to a charity effort to help those affected.

World number two Iga Swiatek also signed the camera lens: "Sending my love to Malibu and LA".

The Pole began her Australian Open campaign with a 6-3 6-4 win over Czech Katarina Siniakova.

The fires, which began on 7 January, are being marked as the most destructive in the city's history.

The LA County medical examiner said on Sunday that 24 people have died in the fires, while at least another 16 remain missing.

Donna Vekic, who is coached by American Pam Shriver, also sent a message to the city after her first-round win on Sunday.

Shriver has stayed behind in LA to help her family.