Heat star Jimmy Butler’s love for tennis is no secret, especially after he was seen working as a ball boy ahead of this year’s U.S. Open last week.
Butler has become friends with various tennis stars, including World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who is competing to defend his title at the U.S. Open. He also just won Wimbledon last month.
The NBA player has even sat in Alcaraz’s player’s box on occasion. It wouldn’t be too shocking if Butler showed up there at the U.S. Open. While sitting in his box, Butler has become one of Alcaraz’s biggest cheerleaders, even when he can’t shout at him during matches.
“I want to yell while I’m sitting in the stands,” Butler said, via WSJ Magazine. “I understand you can’t, but I want to yell, ‘Don’t worry—we’re never out for this!’ He’s going to try to get to every ball.”
Butler is astonished with the 20-year-old’s skill, something not many tennis fans have seen since the Big Three came onto the scene more than two decades ago.
“Incredible to witness in person,” Butler said. “He never gives up on any ball, he’ll dive, he’ll do something miraculous just to try to get the ball over the net and win a point.”
The Heat star even won a point against Alcaraz in a friendly competition at last week’s “Stars of the U.S. Open.”
Jimmy Butler just showed the world how to beat Carlos Alcaraz 👀 pic.twitter.com/k8WJYlY5Xh
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 23, 2023
These “miraculous” plays will be on center stage when Alcaraz plays his first round match on Tuesday night vs. German player Dominik Koepfer.
