NEW YORK (AP) — NBA star Jimmy Butler took a swing at an additional sport Wednesday evening, dressing just like a member of the ball crew at the U.S. Open to carry out these responsibilities and selecting up a racket to participate in with Frances Tiafoe, Carlos Alcaraz and Sebastián Yatra at a charity event that elevated $320,000 for humanitarian reduction in Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the war there continues.
Butler, who led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals last period right before losing to the Denver Nuggets, is not new to tennis and is friends with 2022 French Open runner-up Coco Gauff.
He teamed with Tiafoe, a semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Open, in doubles from defending champion Alcaraz and Grammy winner Yatra.
Other just-for-enjoyable exhibitions at Stars of the Open in Louis Armstrong Stadium included John McEnroe, Gabriela Sabatini, Jessica Pegula, Matteo Berrettini, Elena Svitolina, Gael Monfils, Chris Eubanks and Jennifer Brady.
The U.S. Open up starts Monday.
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