Carlos Alcaraz envies Roger Federer’s golf game: ‘As beautiful as tennis!’ | ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz envies Federer’s golf game: “As beautiful as tennis!”
ATP No. 1 club members play in Melbourne
January 21, 2026
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer at the 2024 Laver Cup.
Written by ATP Staff
Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer have never had the chance to go head-to-head on a tennis court in a Lexus ATP matchup, but the ATP’s top-ranked club members squared off on a golf course in Melbourne during the Australian Open. Alkaraz was asked about the Swiss star’s game during an on-court interview at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday following his three-set win over Yannick Hanfmann.
“As beautiful as tennis!” Alcaraz said. “I’m not surprised. It’s unbelievable. Everything he does, everything he does is very stylish, very beautiful. On the golf course, it’s a very beautiful swing.”
Alcaraz, 22, has been playing golf for about five years — all throughout his career — while Federer, 44, waited until retirement to take up the sport. Judging from Alcaraz’s comments, the Swiss made the most of his short time in the new competition.
“I think he’s been playing really well for two years now,” Alcaraz said. “I’ve been in five fights and he’s already beaten me! Yeah, it hurts.”
Back on the tennis court, the player currently ranked number one in the PIF ATP rankings has no such problem. He defeated Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round without losing a set – although it took him 78 minutes to earn a dramatic first-set victory over the German.
While Alcaraz is still a long way from Federer’s six Australian Open singles titles and 20 Grand Slams, he could complete a career Grand Slam in just two weeks at the age of 22 – five years younger than when Federer achieved the feat when he won the French Open in 2009.
