Taylor Fritz has pledged to provide away all of his first spherical winnings.
The American No.1 is into the third spherical of the Australian Open and made the heart-warming announcement following his match.
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Fourth seed Fritz donating his prize cash from his win over Jenson Brooksby to assist victims from the Los Angeles wildfires.
The fires started on January 7 and have killed 25 folks together with greater than 12,000 houses, companies, colleges and different constructions being destroyed.
The American, who lives in Southern California and was born in San Diego, has been among the many many who’ve needed to watch the horrors unfold from a distance.
Talking after beating Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 6-2 6-1 6-0 within the second spherical, Fritz stated: “I simply need everybody to remain secure, it is insane what occurred.
“I will be donating my first spherical prize cash to LA wildfire reduction funds.
“It’s actually the least I may do. Southern California’s my dwelling and LA was my dwelling for a really very long time so I’m simply doing what I can do to assist. I’d encourage anybody else who can donate to assist too as a result of lots of people actually need assistance.”
Gamers earn 132,000 Australian {dollars} from the primary spherical which is $82,000 or £67,000.
The 27-year-old wrote “LA” and drew a love coronary heart on a digital camera lens as he left the courtroom after his newest win, which lasted only one hour and 22 minutes.
Fritz, who misplaced to Jannik Sinner within the US Open remaining final yr, has by no means reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
Arriving in Melbourne with a career-high rating of 4, he’s having fun with one of the best tennis of his profession with two ATP titles final yr and reaching the World Finals in November.
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In keeping with Infosys Stats, Fritz clipped 24 winners to 9 and gained 80% of first-serve factors together with 60% of his second-serve factors.
“It all the time feels nice to come back out and play a match like that,” the 27-year-old added after his match.
“I performed properly within the first spherical too, so I’m excessive in confidence going into the third spherical. That is superior.”
The American now units up a conflict with world No.41 Gael Monfils within the third spherical, the Frenchman is on hot-form having lately gained the Auckland Open.
The pair have historical past in Melbourne with their final match coming within the second spherical of the Australian Open, a conflict which Fritz would win 63 67(8) 76(6) 76(5).