Alcaraz beats Monfils in Miami Open as Neymar, Jimmy Butler, Juan Martin del Potro look on
The stars came out to Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night to see top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz of Spain take on charismatic Frenchman Gael Monfils in the Miami Open Round of 32.
Soccer star Neymar, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler and Argentine tennis legend Juan Martin del Potro were in the audience as Alcaraz beat Monfils 6-2, 6-4. Although the match wasn’t close, it was entertaining. Both players drew “oohs” and “aaahs” from the crowd.
“I love playing here,” Alcaraz said. “It is incredible playing in front of legends of every sport. I try to show great tennis to make them happy, as well. Obviously, I have a relationship with Jimmy Butler. I talked a little bit with Juan Martin and Neymar. It’s great to put on a show in front of them.”
Asked if he gets extra motivated seeing those celebrities in the stands, the young Spaniard smiles and replied: “A little bit. I’m not going to lie. Obviously, seeing them watching my game, it’s extra motivation to raise your level and try to put on a show to make them enjoy watching. That’s what I was thinking about, but I also had to be focused on the match, on tennis, and I think I did pretty well and I hope they enjoyed it.”
Alcaraz said he heard from Neymar before the match and the Brazilian soccer star told him he was attending the match with Butler. Afterward, Alcaraz spent a few minutes chatting with Neymar and Butler.
“We talked with Neymar about how his knee (rehab) is going, step by step, and he is here a couple of days enjoying Miami a little bit,” Alcaraz said. “With Jimmy, he has a really important game tomorrow (against the Warriors), so I wished him good luck.”
Alcaraz and Monfils both love putting on a show and bring out smiles in each other.
“It’s always great to share the court with Gael,” Alcaraz said. “For the fans it’s great to see both of us playing great tennis. We try to smile all the time, enjoy playing tennis every single minute when we play each other.”
Other men who advanced included Alexander Zverev, Karen Khachanov, Alex de Minaur, and Fabian Marozsan. Christopher Eubanks lost to Zverev, Ben Shelton lost in straight sets to Lorenzo Musetti and Sebastian Korda lost to Hubert Hurcakz, leaving no American men in the draw.
Among the players on the Tuesday schedule: Alcaraz, No. 2 Jannik Sinner, No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, No. 4 Alexander Zverev, No. 7 Casper Ruud. No. 4 Elena Rybakina plays No. 8 Maria Sakkari on the women’s side.