Carlos Alcaraz hits the court with NBA star Jimmy Butler after his victory in Doha

After Carlos Alcaraz (21) triumphed over Martin Cilic in the first round of the Qatar Open on Monday, he remained on the court to engage in a few rallies with a spectator NBA star Jimmy Butler (35).

Alcaraz took a moment to adjust to the windy conditions but ultimately defeated the seasoned Croatian player with a score of 6-4, 6-4, before interacting with Butler.

The veteran guard, who was recently traded to the Golden State Warriors, chose not to remain in the Bay Area during the National Basketball Association All-Star Game held on Sunday. Instead, he traveled to the Gulf region to witness Alcaraz's victory.

Butler then joined Alcaraz on the court, and both athletes wore microphones as they entertained the audience. Butler even attempted to return an Alcaraz lob with a between-the-legs shot, though he was unsuccessful.

In his match against the 36-year-old Cilic, Alcaraz demonstrated greater strength during critical moments. The first set hinged on an 18-minute seventh game, culminating in Alcaraz securing the essential service break.

During the second set, Alcaraz found himself down 0-40 while serving in the eighth game. He responded by winning 15 of the next 19 points, concluding the match in one hour and 38 minutes.

"I'm really pleased about saving that game," said Alcaraz on court. "Marin** puts a lot of pressure when you're serving, he's a great returner. I'm really happy to stay calm in that moment, do my routine and make good shots. I'm really happy to win in two sets."**

He is set to face either Zhang Zhizhen or Luca Nardi in the second round.

Cilic was participating in his first tournament since undergoing knee surgery in November.

Jiri Lehecka defeated seventh seed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This victory marked the Czech's 11th win in 2025, placing him in a tie for the ATP Tour lead alongside Alex de Minaur and Miomir Kecmanovic.