The American WTA legend is finding it difficult to attend the Australian Open match while stuck in LA with the Rescue Cats

The Australian Open is in full swing and brimming with electric energy. Victories are celebrated with ecstatic jubilation, while defeats bring moments of quiet reflection. But amidst all the action in court, Donna Vekic‘s legendary trainer, Pam Shriver faces an unexpected battle – away from the courts. Shriver finds herself in an emotional tug-of-war as she watches Vekic score sensational victories. Why, you ask? Let’s find out.

Donna Vekic is making great progress in Melbourne and has qualified for the third round of the tournament. Her second match was a bit dramatic as she lost the first set to Harriet Dart. However, she managed to get back into the game and win the remaining two sets to advance further. While her fans watched with bated breath, her coach Shriver faced major challenges streaming the game.

The 62-year-old made his comments to X, commenting on a video that highlighted Vekic’s dominant comeback in the game. Shriver wrote: “I watched the game point by point on the AO app but couldn’t figure out how to find it streaming in the US. At ATMs in LA you don’t worry about the little things!! 🙏”

Remember, Shriver couldn’t make it to Melbourne and decided to stay at her home in Los Angeles to help her friends and family fight the devastating wildfires. Just hours before Vekic’s first match, Shriver shared her situation on X, writing, “With @AustralianOpen @espn & @DonnaVekic playing later, I’ll be back in LA helping meet my family’s needs.” But that is not the only challenge facing the American veteran.

Donna Vekic’s match literally kept her coach awake and deprived of sleep. Shriver shared the same in another post, writing, “I’ve never slept with three rescue cats in the same room, but these are unusual times in LA. I’m starting at 4:45 because I’ve been playing with Donna’s match for a long time. How much sleep can I get starting at 4:50 in the morning?” Although it is not yet known why Shriver is sleeping in the same room with three rescue cats, it may be attributed to the devastation caused by the wildfires.

So far, at least 25 valuable lives have been lost and over 10,000 buildings have been reduced to rubble due to the forest fires. In addition, more than 153,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes, with insured losses totaling over $8 billion. Although the condition of Shriver’s home is not yet known, her latest posts are definitely not encouraging for her fans. Going back to her partnership with Vekic, this isn’t the first time the American coach hasn’t been able to see her mentee play in a crucial tournament.

During the Paris Olympics last year, when Vekic won the silver medal, her coach was not there to see her achieve remarkable fame because of a family commitment. And once again, her commitment to family was at the heart of Vekic’s campaign.

However, Vekic did not miss paying her tribute to Shriver at the Australian Open.

“I really miss her” – When Donna Vekic made compassionate comments for Pam Shriver

Donna Vekic has received ongoing support from Pam Shriver for over a year. So it’s definitely sad for the star player not to have her in her box during a Grand Slam. That’s why shortly after her first-round win over Diane Parry, Vekic expressed emotion when asked about her coach’s absence.

In the interview Vekic said: “It’s a very difficult situation for them. She’s at home in LA, her house is fine at the moment, but so many have lost everything and it’s a very terrible situation.” She continued, adding: “Since we did our pre-season training in LA this year, we were only there two weeks ago. I really can’t believe what’s happening. We are very sad that she is not with us. We really miss her and I hope everything turns out well.”

As the tournament continues, fans are wondering: Will Shriver overcome her challenges and head to Melbourne soon? While that remains uncertain, it will be interesting to see how far Vekic can rise in the absence of her coach.