Donations for relief and aid from the fires burning in Los Angeles are coming in Thursday from all over the world. One is from an pro tennis player from California playing in the Australian Open.
Taylor Fritz said on Thursday he is donating his prize money from his first-round victory in the Australian Open — about $82,000 — to relief funds for people affected by the wildfires.
“I mean, I feel like it’s really the least I can do,” said Fritz, a U.S. Open finalist who was born in Rancho Santa Fe and still is based in the state.
Fritz reached the third round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park by defeating Cristian Garin of Chile, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0.
“Obviously SoCal has been my home forever. I still spend a lot of time in L.A., but I lived in L.A. for quite a while. I have friends impacted; family not so much. I had some family have to evacuate. The house that my brothers grew up in burnt down. Obviously, they’re not living there anymore,” Fritz said.
“A lot of people are affected by it. I feel like if you’re in a place to help, then you should.”
Fritz was the runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open in September and is seeded No. 4 in Australia.