The most awaited US Open 2023 qualifiers have commenced and the tennis community is readier than ever to sweep off with some jaw-dropping tennis matches. Right before the power-packed matches with the top seeds in the coming week, fans got an entertaining prelude with unexpected stars taking over the tennis court. Two young tennis icons collaborated with one NBA All-Star and one Columbian pop star!
In this exhibition match, the defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz and the American home favorite Frances Tiafoe teamed up with NBA star Jimmy Butler and the Columbian singer Sebastian Yatra. This epic cross-over between different industries led to a charity event like none other.
Carlos Alcaraz swings with Jimmy Butler at charity event
The Stars of the Open event in 2023 included several tennis icons such as John McEnroe, Jessica Pegula, Matteo Berrettini, Elena Svitolina, Gael Monfils and so many more. The main fun exhibition match with Alcaraz, Tiafoe, Butler, and Yatra raised over $320,000 for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022 has had an impact on countless talented sportspersons as well. This just-for-fun exhibition match did more than just entertain and contributed to a great cause.
The NBA star is a huge fanboy of Carlos Alcaraz. The Butler has shown his love for tennis and especially the young Spaniard countless times on social media. Just months ago, the basketball icon stayed up till 2 a.m. at China to watch his favorite tennis star obliterate his opponent in the Wimbledon. Right after this, Butler was also found in the prestigious SW19 stadium to support Alcaraz in the semifinals in real life!
😍 El fan número uno de @carlosalcaraz
🎾 @JimmyButler vibró con la victoria del español ante Medvedev para meterse en la final de @Wimbledon
🔝 A las 2 de la mañana y desde China no quiso perderse el partido pic.twitter.com/mQQdMjt4Rp
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) July 15, 2023
Following these adorable fanboy moments, the two great athletes became good friends and now, this friendship has grown into them sharing a tennis court. Jimmy Butler entered the court dressed as another US Open ballboy and after goofing around, he was roped in to play against his favorite player Carlos Alcaraz himself.
Jimmy Butler playing tennis is hilarious 🤣
(via @usopen)pic.twitter.com/2pe9FFstpl
— ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2023
The Buckets teamed up with the American tennis stunner Frances Tiafoe to play against Carlos Alcaraz. As soon as he picked up the racket, Jimmy quickly showed that his skills were not restricted to the basketball court and played Alcaraz’s special drop shots against him to win a point as well.
Alcaraz partners with singer Sebastian Yatra
While Frances Tiafoe teamed up with the NBA Big Guns, Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t going to go easy. He teamed up with the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Sebastian Yatra. Yatra pulled in even bigger guns and prepared for this exhibition match with the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal!
During the event, he said that he was a representative of the legendary El Nino and also offered to consider playing doubles with Carlos in the next year’s US Open!
El representante de @RafaelNadal.
¿Qué tal lo hizo? pic.twitter.com/gogsekoO0x
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2023
This entertaining and funny exhibition match was everything that the tennis community needed before the nerve-wracking main draw matches that will come the following week. What are your thoughts on this mix-up of all different industries bonding on the tennis court? Let us know your favorite moment in the comments below!
