Carlos Alcaraz vs Roger Federer: Spanish ace reveals who's the better golfer
(Courtesy : Australian Open Screengrab/@rogerfederer/Instagram)
Alcaraz has also famously played golf with Andy Murray during Wimbledon last year.
Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the third round of Australian Open 2026 on Wednesday at Melbourne Park, but it was his story about playing golf with Roger Federer that made the night memorable.
The world No. 1 defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-2, in the second round on Rod Laver Arena. However, it was a tougher match than what the score suggests. The opening set itself lasted 78 minutes.
Hanfmann had Alcaraz scrambling at times and even led 3-1 once, but the Spaniard clawed his way back and edged the tie-break. Once he found his rhythm, there was no going back.
The match took two hours and 44 minutes to complete, making it the longest straight sets win of Alcaraz’s Grand Slam career. And then came the real entertainment of the night.
During his post-match interview, Alcaraz was asked a simple question: who had he played golf with the other day? The Spaniard, nervously laughing, said, “I… uhh…” drawing laughter from the crowd.
The interviewer pressed again. “It’s an easy question. Who did you play golf with?”
“I was lucky to play with Roger,” the 22-year-old replied, referring to Roger Federer. “His golf is as beautiful as his tennis,” Alcaraz added.
The comment brought loud cheers from Rod Laver Arena, summing up both Alcaraz’s and Roger’s fans. Meanwhile, Alcaraz went on to praise Federer’s golfing skills, saying the Swiss legend does everything with style.
“Everything he does is beautiful,” Alcaraz said. “On the golf course, he has a really nice swing.”
A fact to remember is that the 22-year-old has been playing golf for about five years, while Federer only started seriously after retiring from tennis. Still, Alcaraz admitted that Federer is already better than him, jokingly.
“I’ve been playing longer and he’s already beating me,” Alcaraz said with a smile. “It hurts.”
In terms of career, there is no doubt that Alcaraz still has a long way to go to match Federer’s record of six Australian Open titles. But, there is a bigger goal at stake for the Spaniard. By winning the tournament, he could complete a Career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.
That would see Alcaraz achieve the feat five years earlier than Federer, who completed his Career Grand Slam with his Roland Garros victory in 2009.
Up next in his quest to win maiden Australian Open title, Alcaraz will face the French player Corentin Moutet in the third round on Friday, January 23.
Who did Carlos Alcaraz defeat in the second round of Australian Open 2026?
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-2.
What did Alcaraz say about Roger Federer?
Alcaraz revealed he recently played golf with Roger Federer and said, “His golf is as beautiful as his tennis.”
Who will Carlos Alcaraz face in the third round of Australian Open 2026?
Alcaraz will face France’s Corentin Moutet in the third round on Friday, January 23.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.