Coco Gauff is a Miami Heat fan and is a friend of Jimmy Butler who earlier this year was at the 2023 Miami Open watching her play.
After winning her first round singles match at the 2023 French Open, Gauff shared a story about 33-year-old Butler gifting her family NBA Finals tickets long before the Heat qualified for the Finals.
It was as if Butler could see into the future when no one else could.
As Goff said, Butler was always positive about his team’s future even when the Heat only had a 3% chance of making the playoffs.
Goff did not want to “jinx” anyone by telling the story beforehand and waited until the Heat were in the finals to share it.
Gauff likes Butler’s mentality and tries to emulate it
She likes Butler’s mentality, and tries to apply it to her situation.
Her first round match against Rebecca Masarova was not easy.
After dropping the first set, the thought of the predicament the Heat was in on the way to Game 7 calmed her.
“Honestly, today, I said to myself if Jimmy Butler didn’t freak out when they were up 3-0 and suddenly he’s 3-everything, then I shouldn’t freak out after losing the first set.”
As for Butler’s ticket show, this is an on-air show.
The French Open concludes on June 11, and Gauff and her family prefer to be in Paris until the end of the tournament, which means Gauff is still playing in it.
It’s likely to arrive in Miami for Game 6 on June 15th if the NBA Finals isn’t over by then.
Pressing Gauff at the French Open
Gauff finished as runner-up in singles and doubles at the 2022 French Open.
Expectations are high for the 20-year-old to get over the hump and win his first major championship.
Gauff was no longer a teenage sensation, and her parents brought in former Serena Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou to help her improve.
If she can win at Roland Garros, it will be especially beneficial for Gauff who loves Paris and will be the first American since Serena Williams to win there.