High-Flying Friends: The Unconventional Partnership of Coco Gauff and NBA Star Jimmy Butler
Unforeseen Bond between Tennis Star Coco Gauff and NBA Player Jimmy Butler: A Remarkable Recovery following Shocking Tennis Setback
Gauff's resurgence this year has been quite the rollercoaster, with a shaky start but an impressive comeback during the clay swing. You might remember a similar slump back in 2023, when a surprising friendship turned things around for her.
After a disappointing quarterfinal loss to Padula Badosa at the Australian Open in January, Gauff struggled with back-to-back first-round defeats at the Qatar Open and Dubai Championships. Her performance didn't significantly improve at the sunshine double, as she couldn't make it past the third round at Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
Now, in yet another quarterfinal, following her successes in Stuttgart and the Madrid Open final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff is finding her rhythm once more.
In 2023, when Gauff was struggling, it was Jimmy Butler who offered her some much-needed insights.
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Believe it or not, NBA enthusiasts may not have been aware that Butler was a die-hard tennis lover.
After a lackluster 2023 Wimbledon, in which Gauff was defeated by Sofia Kenin in the first round, Butler attended the next Grand Slam, the U.S. Open, where he ended up connecting with Gauff.
"He has that mindset of no matter what the odds are against him, he's going to give it his all," Gauff shared at the time. "I think he's just one of those athletes with the mentality that makes his game even better. You have people that are talented and don't have the mentality. I think he has the talent and the mentality. It's just taking him even further."
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Reflecting on Butler's influence, Gauff commented, "Between Wimbledon and the next tournament I played, nothing could have really changed that much. It was really just the mental thing. I think that's what I learned from watching Jimmy compete over the years."
After Butler lent his support, Gauff overcame her Wimbledon first-round stunner to emerge victorious at the US Open and seal her first major title.
"I've been focusing more on myself and my expectations of myself," Gauff remarked. "I really believe that now I have the maturity and ability to do it."
Butler's passions aren't exclusive to basketball; he's also a fan of dominoes, coffee, and country music. With six All-Star appearances under his belt and five consecutive All-Defensive team selections, Butler has cemented his reputation as one of the NBA's most respected players, even though he wasn't drafted until the end of the first round in 2011.
Gauff was inspired by Butler's tenacity and determination, which included overcoming homelessness. "I just love the competition aspect of tennis," Butler said. "It's like 1-on-1 competition at its finest. I have a lot of friends that I'm fans of. (Coco) is so emotional in a good way. She's a champion, and I love that she's from the city that I work in. I just love to…support her, so I want her to win every single time."
Fast forward to 2025, and Gauff has become a ten-time title holder, continuing her rise in the tennis world. Currently in the quarterfinals at Rome, she'll face the promising young talent, Mirra Andreeva.
Tennis enthusiasts might find it intriguing to know that Jimmy Butler, the NBA star, is also a dedicated tennis fan. In 2023, during a challenging time in Coco Gauff's career, Butler offered her valuable insights, specifically pointing to his tenacity and determination, which included overcoming homelessness. Butler was inspired by the competition aspect of tennis and expressed his support for Gauff, hoping for her success in every match, even cheering for her when she faced off against Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals of Rome in 2025.
