'Devastating' LA fires three blocks from Osaka's home

Japan's Osaka lives in Los Angeles

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

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was one of several players at the Australian Open to "send love" to Los Angeles as she revealed the devastating wildfires were just three blocks from her home.

Osaka, 27, beat France's Caroline Garcia 6-3 3-6 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena to reach the second round at Melbourne Park, where she will face Karolina Muchova.

Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek dedicated their first-round wins to LA and the firefighters who have been tackling the fires.

"I was watching the fire map and the fire is three blocks from my house," Osaka said.

"I had someone go and get my daughter's birth certificate because I didn't know what would happen if that burned.

"I'm sending all my love to LA and I know we hear about fires but I didn't know how devastating it could be. I hope everyone's doing OK and I'm sending them all my love."

Third seed Gauff, one of the favourites for the title in Melbourne, wrote "stay strong LA, thank you firefighters" on the camera lens after beating compatriot and 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3.

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

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 while Poland's world number two Iga Swiatek earlier signed "sending my love to Malibu and LA".

The five-time Grand Slam champion 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.

In Monday's other first-round ties, American 10th seed Danielle Collins defeated Ukraine's Daria Snigur 7-6 (7-4) 6-3, while Canadian Belinda Bencic knocked out Latvian 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets in her first Grand Slam match since having a baby - winning 6-3 7-6 (8-6).

Coco Gauff wrote on the camera lens following her first-round Australian Open win