Taylor Fritz set to donate first-round prize money from Australian Open to help LA wildfire victims

Taylor Fritz will donate his $82,000 prize money from the 2025 Australian Open to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires after he defeated Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 on Thursday.

Fritz lives in California and previously did in LA so will no doubt have friends who have been affected by the devastation. His first round prize money accounts for $132,000 AUS dollars which is around £67,000 or $82,000 in the US.

The fires began more than a week ago which were fanned by hurricane type gusts which have left two dozen people dead and many homes and businesses in ruins. Coco Gauff, Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula have expressed shock also with Keys donating $20,000 to the fire department in the city.

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Pegula has been sharing ways to help the animals displaced by the fires with the American having founded the A Lending Paw charity. Naomi Osaka lives in LA also and said that the fires were a mere three blocks away from her house so no doubt a time where tennis is of course the priority albeit with one eye at home.

But while that is the case, Fritz has done his bit and will now focus on a third round tussle with Gael Monfils who continues to defy age and it will no doubt be a match which will be certainly a popcorn affair on Saturday with both being entertaining on court.

"I just want everyone to obviously stay safe, it's just insane what has happened," said the 27-year-old.

"I'm going to be donating my first-round prize money to LA wildfire relief funds.

"It's really the least I can do. Southern California is my home and LA was my home for a long time.

"I'm just doing what I can possibly do to help and I would encourage anyone else who can donate to help because a lot of people really need it."

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