MELBOURNE, Australia — There’s a young woman who looks a lot like Coco Gauff at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open. She has the same fiery, competitive eyes, the same tendency to break out in a giggle in the middle of a sentence and the same number of titles.

American tennis star Coco Gauff had a message for those in Los Angeles dealing with the devastating wildfires as she defeated Sofia Kenin in the Australian Open.

After winning her first round match at this year’s Australian Open, Coco Gauff sent a message back to Los Angeles where the wildfires continue to cause widespread devastation.

American star Coco Gauff began her Australian Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 win over former champion Sofia Kenin in a tricky opening contest at Melbourne Park on Monday.

For shoes, Gauff wore a pair of New Balance Coco CG2 sneakers. The shoe is a white mesh upper featuring green accents. It is a mid-cut silhouette and has a dual-density FuelCell midsole to help drive the wearer forward. The mudguards are made of leather and suede.

America's biggest tennis star had a bad summer in 2024. After she double faulted 19 times in an early exit in the U.S. Open, Gauff said she didn't want to lose a match like that again, then brought on a new coach and adopted a new grip to ensure it.

Coco Gauff had a little difficulty adjusting to the sun at one end of Rod Laver Arena and dropped an early service game but quickly settled into a rhythm to start her Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3 win Monday over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

The No. 3 seed Gauff committed at least one double fault in seven of her nine service games, yet was only broken once in a meeting of the two most recent American major champions.

Coco Gauff has made improvements to her serving and her forehand. And the strides in both of those areas are among the reasons she's considered one of the few women ready to challenge two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open.

American tennis player and world no.2 Coco Gauff sent out a heartwarming message to firefighters at Los Angeles following her first round win against his compatriot Sofia Kenin in the women’s singles at Australian Open 2025 on Monday,