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Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler is a mesmerizing athlete in his own right, but the American is impressed just as much with 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. Having seen the World No. 1 compete up close this week at the 2023 Miami Open, Butler marveled at the grace and poise the Spaniard radiates on the court.
Jimmy Butler, who has represented the Miami Heat in the NBA since 2019, was among a handful of stars in attendance at the Miami Open, the season's second ATP Masters 1000 event.
Not his first time watching Alcaraz in action, the 33-year-old reiterated how much fun the Spaniard felt like he was having every time he took to the court, a mentality he personally could relate to. With so much going right for the teenager, Butler was not surprised whatsoever that Carlos Alcaraz became the World No. 1 even at this age -- the youngest in ATP history.
“He’s always poised. He’s never rattled and more than anything, it looks like he’s having so much fun out there,” Butler said in an interview with ATPTour.com. “I think whenever you have fun and you have that mentality that you know you’re the best, you go out there and you play as though you’re the best, results happen and he’s not No. 1 for no reason.”
Carlos Alcaraz into Miami Open quarterfinals, takes on Taylor Fritz next
Unperturbed by the media spotlight and the presence of celebrities out to catch sight of him, Carlos Alcaraz has reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Miami Open and is three wins away from completing the Sunshine Double.
After winning the Indian Wells Masters earlier this month without dropping a single set, the Spaniard has a shot at becoming only the eighth man (12th player overall) to win the title in both Indian Wells and Miami in the same calendar year.
Up next, the defending champion will lock horns with American Taylor Fritz -- their first match on the ATP Tour. Fritz took down another teenager, Holger Rune, in the fourth round to book a meeting with the World No. 1. Alcaraz, meanwhile, prevailed over Tommy Paul in straight sets in the fourth round on Tuesday.
The winner of the clash will take on either Jannik Sinner or Emil Ruusuvuori in the semifinals, while fourth seed Daniil Medvedev remains the favorite to reach the final from the bottom half of the draw.
