The 2023 Wimbledon Championship has been as exciting as ever. The drama and the sheer brilliance of tennis stars are on display yet again. However, a particular moment by the current World No.1 caught the attention of Miami Heat forward, Jimmy Butler.
The 33-year-old has engaged in several sports other than basketball over the years. With acquaintances from multiple sporting worlds, Butler is truly a known figure among athletes. But he has a special connection with tennis, which was recently on display in his recent Instagram story.
Jimmy Butler gives a shoutout to World No.1 tennis star
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Jimmy Butler had a remarkable run in the playoffs last season. He led the Heat to the NBA Finals, while also winning the NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP award in the process. He also made history with the Heat by becoming only the second 8th-seeded team to make the NBA Finals. Thus, Butler has been having a deservingly relaxing off-season after the exhausting playoff run.
Whether it’s singing with soccer star Neymar Jr. or reacting to pop icon Shakira’s post, Butler has kept himself entertained. Similarly, with the Wimbledon quarterfinals coming up, Butler seemed to be interested in spectating.
On his Instagram story, the 6’7 forward shared a video of Carlos Alcaraz‘s match against Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon Round of 16. In the brief clip, the Spaniard is seen making an unreal pick that shocked the crowd.
Jimmy wants to go see Carlos at Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/xY3cctNv7H
— tragicpatek (@tragicpatek) July 11, 2023
Fascinated by the shot, Butler vowed to make it to London. “I’ll be there Wednesday to see this in person,” he said, while also tagging Alcaraz’s Instagram account.
Alcaraz went on to win the matchup against Berrettini to advance to the Wimbledon Quarterfinals. The 20-year-old is due to play against the sixth-seeded Danish pro, Holger Rune.
With the story, fans expect to see Butler at the Royal Box soon. However, this is not the first time the six-time NBA All-Star has publicly shown his love for tennis.
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Bulter has a long history with Carlos Alcaraz
Jimmy Bulter has had friends from various sporting worlds and has indulged with several athletes before. He has played padel with the former Miami Heat guard, Dwyane Wade, while also trying his hand at football and soccer.
However, Butler’s friendship with Carlos Alcaraz goes a long way back. The five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree watched the tennis star compete in the 2022 US Open where he defeated Dusan Lajovic at the Miami Masters.
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Likewise, Alcaraz was seen attending a Miami Heat game to watch Butler in action. The latter also shared a video of himself cheering for the World No.1 at the French Open earlier this year. This video was shared by Butler right after he led the Heat past the Boston Celtics to win the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
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