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Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula dedicated their Australian Open first-round wins to Los Angeles and the firefighters who have been tackling the devastating wildfires.<\/b><\/p>\n
Third seed Gauff, one of the favourites for the title in Melbourne, beat compatriot and 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3.<\/p>\n
Gauff wrote “stay strong LA, thank you firefighters” on the camera lens after her victory.<\/p>\n
She and Taylor Fritz have previously donated to a charity effort to help those affected.<\/p>\n
Seventh seed Pegula wrote “LA” and drew a love heart on the lens after her dominant 6-3 6-0 victory over Australian wildcard Maya Joint.<\/p>\n
Poland’s world number two Iga Swiatek earlier signed “sending my love to Malibu and LA”.<\/p>\n
The five-time Grand Slam champion began her Australian Open campaign with a 6-3 6-4 win over Czech Katarina Siniakova.<\/p>\n
The fires, which began on 7 January, are being marked as the most destructive in the city’s history<\/a>.<\/p>\n The LA County medical examiner said on Sunday that 24 people have died<\/a> in the fires, while at least another 16 remain missing.<\/p>\n Donna Vekic, who is coached by American Pam Shriver, also sent a message to the city after her first-round win on Sunday.<\/p>\n Shriver has stayed behind in LA to help her family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n