Donna Vekic shouts out Los Angeles after securing first 2025 win at Australian Open

Back in Melbourne, Donna Vekic picked up her first win of 2025 by advancing on Day 1 of the Australian Open.

After defeating Diane Parry, 6-4, 6-4, the No. 18 seed sent love back to a city that is hurting by signing a camera with the message, “💙LA.”

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Deadly wildfires have devastated the greater Los Angeles area since Tuesday. For Vekic, one key team member did not make the trip to the year's first Grand Slam event in order to prioritize the health and safety of her loved ones.

Shared the 27-year-old’s co-coach Pam Shriver on X, “I am back in LA helping manage my family’s needs. The MVP athletes in charge of hitting fire targets with water dumps from helicopters and planes have been showing extraordinary hand eye skills.”

Shriver, an International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee who also works as a commentator for ESPN and Tennis Channel, was brought on by Vekic at the tail end of the 2022 season. The Croatian compiled a memorable 2024 campaign that saw her reach a maiden major semifinal at Wimbledon, bring home the silver medal in singles at the Paris Olympics and finish the year inside the Top 20.

“We were doing our pre-season in L.A. this year, so we were just there two weeks ago. So I really cannot believe what's happening. We are very sad that she's not here with us,” Vekic later siad in press. “We are in touch daily, and I hope everything will be okay.”

Against Parry, Vekic found her range by producing 38 winners to 24 unforced errors. The one-hour-and-44-minute victory wiped away a 0-3 season start that saw Vekic lose all six sets she played across the United Cup and Adelaide.