Carlos Alcaraz explains how he felt having Jimmy Butler watch his latest match at Indian Wells
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz explains what his relationship with Jimmy Butler is like
It is not the first time that Butler has watched Alcaraz’s matches, including at the Qatar Open last year.
When asked about the NBA star’s attendance in his post-match press conference, Alcaraz revealed that he had spoken to Butler about coming to his match, and admitted he was ‘really happy’ about it.
“Yeah, yeah, he’s my guy (smiling),” said Alcaraz. I knew that he was coming. He told me, no, I’m just doing my rehab, like, really close, so I’m going to show up to watch you.
“So I just really happy that, you know, everything he’s been through with the rehab, with the knee, that he can show up and watch my match and have a little bit of time with him afterwards.
“So, for me, I just really appreciate that. I’m not able to see him very often, but he’s making that effort to come over, I’m just really happy about it.”
Carlos Alcaraz suggests if he has ever given Jimmy Butler tennis advice
Butler’s continual attendance at tennis tournaments shows how big of a fan he is of the sport, but he is yet to receive any advice yet from Alcaraz, who admitted he would like some words of wisdom about his basketball game.
“Well, he didn’t watch me playing basketball at all, but I would love to (smiling), just to show up one of his training when he’s good again,” said Alcaraz. You know, I just really want him to watch me, how I shoot or how I play basketball, and then receive a little bit of advice from him.
“I just tell him a little bit about it. I just watch him few times, but it was just having fun here in the tournaments or after a match, so I just couldn’t give him, you know, good advices. But I just really wanted to step on the court and be a coach for him sooner than later.”
Alcaraz certainly does not need any tips on his tennis game, as his win over Dimitrov means he has won all 13 of his matches this year.
The world number one will look to continue this run at Indian Wells, with Alcaraz’s next match coming against Arthur Rinderknech.