From Wuhan, Coco Gauff sends prayers to home state Florida during Hurricane Milton
The American has been sharing information all week long on her social media pages, before the destructive storm made landfall overnight in the States.
WUHAN, China—Half a world away from her friends and family, Coco Gauff is keeping her home state close to her heart after a devastating hurricane made landfall overnight in Florida.
“I've been following the news,” Gauff told press on Thursday after her third-round victory over Marta Kostyuk at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open. “I live in South Florida, so it's not hitting too hard there. There are some tornadoes going on.
“I'm thinking a lot about those in central and the west coast of Florida. I know it's supposed to hit hard, especially in the Tampa area.”
Having previously reached as high as a Category 5 as it approached the state, Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm, bringing with it 100 mph (160 kph) winds, an outbreak of deadly tornadoes and storm surge topping 10 feet (3 meters) forecast in some areas.
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Coming less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene also struck the region, the destructive storm is another blow for the American’s weather-battered home state.
But in true Gauff style, the 20-year-old has been using her platform all week long to urge fellow Floridians to take shelter and hunker down safely as the storm passes, as well as sharing information for “all types of shelters, pets, those with special needs, everything” on her social media pages.
“Floridians are pretty hurricane strong,” she acknowledged. “My grandparents sat through a lot of hurricanes, (but) we live in the south side of Florida, so we will be okay…
“Hopefully those who were ordered to evacuate evacuated. I know Floridians are very stubborn people, so I know there are some people that are staying.
“I just pray there are no lives lost. Obviously I don't want anybody's home to be destroyed. At the end of the day it's property and can be replaceable.”
Into the quarterfinals in Wuhan, No. 4 seed Gauff will face Magda Linette on Friday.