Connect with us

CELEBRITIES

Coco Gauff’s unlikely friendship with NBA star Jimmy Butler turned around her tennis career after stunning Wimbledon defeat

Published

on

 

Gauff is currently making her way through the 2024 Wimbledon women’s field, attempting to build off a strong run at the recent French Open.

But last year was not a good year for Gauff at SW19.

The American star fell in three sets to an unseeded Sofia Kenin in 2023.

With other major tournaments approaching, one of the toughest basketball players in the world gave Gauff the perspective that she needed for a summer recharge.

 

 

Few NBA fans knew that Jimmy Butler was a serious tennis lover.

But it became impossible to ignore last summer, as Butler spent time at the US Open and connected with Gauff.

“He has that mentality really of, you know, no matter what the odds are against him, he’s gonna give it his all,” Gauff said.

“I think he’s just one of those athletes [where] the mentality 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.

“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 championed Gauff last year, she shook off her Wimbledon first-round stunner to triumph at the US Open and win her first major.

“I have been focusing more on myself and my expectations of myself,” Gauff said. “I really believe that now I have the maturity and ability to do it.”

After Butler championed Gauff last year, she shook off her Wimbledon first-round stunner to triumph at the US Open and win her first major.

“I have been focusing more on myself and my expectations of myself,” Gauff said. “I really believe that now I have the maturity and ability to do it.”

 

Gauff was also inspired by his dedication and focus, 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.”

 

Gauff is seeded No. 2 at Wimbledon this year.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NFL10 hours ago

SHOCKWAVES ACROSS THE NFL: Kansas City Chiefs Trade Superstar Quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Las Vegas Raiders Read the 👇

ROYAL FAMILY12 hours ago

“I know Lilibet is not my daughter by blood, but what can I do? I still love her deeply,” Harry confesses for the first time about his daughter’s DNA results — leaving Meghan speechless: “Lilibet’s real father is…” SEE MORE BELOW 👇👇👇

NFL17 hours ago

BREAKING NEWS: Nearly 3 tons of food were transported by 6 private planes that took off from The Kansas City to Texas! The Mahomes sign appeared on the planes, making everyone stunned, revealing the real person behind this humanitarian act that made millions of people cry✈️🍲💔

NEWS18 hours ago

Team USA demands cancellation of 4 Nations Face-off final results following their loss to Canada, threatens to leave tournament. Full story 👇👇👇

TENNIS21 hours ago

BREAKING: Tennis star Coco Gauff has donated $3.0 million to support victims and aid in the search and rescue of those missing in the devastating flash floods in Texas. Fans were stunned to learn that Coco Gauff personally traveled to the disaster site to offer hands-on help… Details 👇👇

NFL23 hours ago

BREAKING NEWS : ‘Cherished’ Coach and Wife, Found Dead in Texas Flood Rescue 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧⤵️

NFL1 day ago

“UPDATE: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS COACH ANDY REID COVERS FUNERAL EXPENSES AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID TO VICTIMS’ FAMILIES AFTER TEXAS FLASH FLOODS”

ROYAL FAMILY1 day ago

Terrible! Princess Anne reveals the truth about King Charles’s real illness — turns out it’s not cancer: ‘I was forced to keep it a secret, but I can’t anymore…’”See more ⤵️

NFL2 days ago

When Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes heard the devastating news—a massive flood in Texas had claimed 51 lives, including 27 young girls who vanished when the waters tore through their summer camp—he broke down. This wasn’t just another headline. This was heartbreak. Overwhelmed with emotion, Patrick Mahomes didn’t hesitate. He donated $1,000,000 to the relief fund , “Texas,” would go toward helping the state heal. But it wasn’t the money that hit people hardest. It was the letter he sent to the parents of those 27 missing girls. Handwritten. Raw. Full of aching compassion.. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 👇👇

NFL2 days ago

BREAKINGNews:While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones—with a reported net worth of $17.8 billion—just gave $500,000 to Texas flood relief, it was Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes who shook the nation with what he did next. When the heartbreaking news broke that 51 lives were lost in the flood—including 27 young girls swept away at a summer camp—Mahomes couldn’t hold back his tears. He didn’t just donate $1.5 million to the relief fund; he also paid out of pocket to rent two apartments for families left homeless by the storm. But it was what he said—not what he gave—that truly broke everyone… Read more⤵️

ROYAL FAMILY2 days ago

No one saw it coming—at least not so soon. But in a historic move, the Duke of Kent has just given Princess Catherine a powerful role: leadership of the Order of the Garter —the oldest and most prestigious order of knights in England. This unexpected move not only changes Catherine’s position at court, but also signals clearly that the era of a queen has begun, and it’s not far off. The question now is not “if,” but “when”… FULL DETAILS👇👇

NFL2 days ago

Heartbreaking Loss for the Mahomes Family: Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Confirm Brittany’s Sister Courtney Tragically Died in Texas Hill Country Floodwaters

Copyright © 2024 UKtalkin