Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start to his Qatar Open campaign, defeating veteran Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round. But the real spectacle came after the match, as the 21-year-old Spaniard shared the court with NBA star Jimmy Butler in a lighthearted exchange that delighted the Doha crowd.
Butler, who recently got traded to the Golden State Warriors, opted to skip the NBA All-Star Game to attend the tournament. After watching Alcaraz battle through a tricky contest, the six-time All-Star stepped onto the court, mic’d up for a fun rally. He even attempted an audacious between-the-legs shot but couldn’t connect, drawing cheers from the stands.
Alcaraz had to work hard for his victory over the 36-year-old Cilic. The first set hinged on an 18-minute seventh game, where Alcaraz finally broke serve. In the second, he faced a 0-40 deficit at 4-3 but responded with a flurry of winners, taking 15 of the next 19 points to close the match in 98 minutes.
“I’m really pleased about saving that game,” Alcaraz said post-match. “Marin puts a lot of pressure when you’re serving, he’s a great returner. I’m really happy to stay calm in that moment, do my routine and make good shots.”
With his first test passed, Alcaraz moves forward in Doha, while Butler’s impromptu cameo added a memorable twist.
