Tennis star Coco Gauff credits Jimmy Butler with improved mental toughness
Coco Gauff was only two months ago embarrassingly bounced from Wimbledon in the first round. Today? Gauff’s in top form. She won the tuneup tournament in Cincinnati less than two weeks ago, toppling No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the final. At Flushing this year, she’s the best hope for the first American champion — men or women — since Sloane Stephens in 2017. The adjustment, Gauff said, was strictly mental. And it was inspired by one of her loyal fans, NBA star Jimmy Butler, who watched from courtside Wednesday as Gauff trounced Mirra Andreeva in the second round, 6-3, 6-2. “That switch I had in the last couple weeks. people think some incredible thing happened,” the sixth-seeded Gauff said. “But realistically, the two weeks 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.”
Source: Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News
Source: Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — ASK IRA: Is Jimmy Butler telling Miami Heat it’s Dame time? sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/30/ask… – 5:12 PM
From earlier — ASK IRA: Is Jimmy Butler telling Miami Heat it’s Dame time? sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/30/ask… – 5:12 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
ASK IRA: Is Jimmy Butler telling Miami Heat it’s Dame time? sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/30/ask… – 12:43 PM
ASK IRA: Is Jimmy Butler telling Miami Heat it’s Dame time? sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/30/ask… – 12:43 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Is Jimmy Butler telling Miami Heat it’s Dame time? Latest “Ask Ira” at sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/30/ask… Plus: Jonathan Taylor comparisons?; How late is too late? – 8:11 AM
Is Jimmy Butler telling Miami Heat it’s Dame time? Latest “Ask Ira” at sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/30/ask… Plus: Jonathan Taylor comparisons?; How late is too late? – 8:11 AM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jimmy Butler is at the US Open to watch Carlos Alcaraz 🫶 🎾
(via @JimmyButler / IG) pic.twitter.com/R934fPBzEi – 11:34 PM
Jimmy Butler is at the US Open to watch Carlos Alcaraz 🫶 🎾
(via @JimmyButler / IG) pic.twitter.com/R934fPBzEi – 11:34 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most playoff points in the 2020s:
1,748 — Jayson Tatum
1,583 — Jimmy Butler
1,517 — Nikola Jokic
1,377 — Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/4OTgEtb6b1 – 1:41 PM
Most playoff points in the 2020s:
1,748 — Jayson Tatum
1,583 — Jimmy Butler
1,517 — Nikola Jokic
1,377 — Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/4OTgEtb6b1 – 1:41 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jimmy Butler called “Dame Time” on this camper
(via @JimmyButler) pic.twitter.com/h42gwXVFSC – 5:27 PM
Jimmy Butler called “Dame Time” on this camper
(via @JimmyButler) pic.twitter.com/h42gwXVFSC – 5:27 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jimmy Butler called “Dame Time” on this camper
(via jimmybutler/IG)
pic.twitter.com/uEcCbhocCQ – 5:09 PM
Jimmy Butler called “Dame Time” on this camper
(via jimmybutler/IG)
pic.twitter.com/uEcCbhocCQ – 5:09 PM
More on this storyline
In her first-round victory, Gauff dropped the first set to veteran Laura Siegemund before grinding out an emotional victory. It lasted over three hours and Gauff complained, angrily and assertively, about Siegemund stalling. Wednesday, by comparison, was a walk in Corona Park. Butler watched approvingly. “I want her to win every single time,” he said. -via New York Daily News / August 30, 2023
Clutch Points: Jimmy Butler pulled up to the US Open to watch Carlos Alcaraz 🔥🎾 (via @JimmyButler / IG) pic.twitter.com/2IrIKq7dUm -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / August 30, 2023
Brady Hawk: My work here is done 🫡 lol pic.twitter.com/lgTqOnrbhu -via Twitter @BradyHawk305 / August 28, 2023