Born in San Diego, California, Taylor Fritz now lives in Rancho Palos Verdes, a coastal city south of Los Angeles.

Before heading to the Australian Open, Fritz witnessed the devastation caused by wildfires in his home state. While in Melbourne, he couldn’t physically help the affected people. But what he did from afar was just as impactful.

The 27-year-old American tennis player announced that he would donate the entire prize money he earned from winning his first match at the year’s first Grand Slam to support the victims. The amount is significant – 82 thousand US dollars, which is approximately ₹1 crore in Indian currency.

Taylor Fritz Donates Prize Money to Wildfire Victims

Fritz advanced to the third round of the Australian Open on January 16, defeating Chile’s Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park. In the first round, he had previously defeated compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 at the John Kane Arena. After winning, Fritz received nearly 1 crore rupees and decided to donate the entire amount to support wildfire relief efforts.

Fritz’s Generosity to Help Los Angeles Fire Victims

After advancing to the third round, Fritz announced, “I am going to donate my first-round prize money to the Los Angeles relief fund. What has happened in my area is absolutely unbelievable. All I want is for everyone to stay safe.”

His announcement was met with applause from the crowd at Margaret Court Arena. Fritz, ranked fourth in men’s tennis, explained, “My home is in Southern California, and I have lived in Los Angeles for a long time. The least I can do for the victims there is this. I did what I could to help. I encourage anyone else to come forward. So many people need this help.”

The Ongoing Wildfire Crisis

The death toll from the wildfires that have been raging for about 10 days has now reached 25. CNN reported that strong winds are threatening to spread the fires to a large area of Southern California, including areas outside Los Angeles County. Over 6 million people are at risk due to the fires.

Other Tennis Players Join Relief Efforts

Several US tennis players have also expressed their support for the wildfire victims. Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, and Jessica Pegula, who are competing in the Australian Open, expressed their sadness at the devastation caused by the fires. They praised the tireless efforts of firefighters.

Madison Keys, with the help of brave firefighters, donated $20,000 (₹24.37 lakh) to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula, who reached the third round of the Australian Open like Fritz, shared ways her followers could help the hundreds of animals displaced by the fires. Pegula is the founder of a dog rescue charity called A Lending Paw.