“I love the game of golf in general. Golf is great, because you are always in beautiful places when you are playing, and the risk for injury, as you know, is very small,” Rafael Nadal once admitted. And Nadal is not the only tennis player who enjoys a round or two of golf. We often see tennis stars trading their rackets for golf clubs whenever they have leisure time. Remember when Novak Djokovic appeared alongside Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup? But hey, what about the other member of the Big 3? Does Roger take a keen interest in golf as well? Well, of course!

Talking to the renowned golfer Adam Scott back in 2019, Federer revealed, “Golf was never part of my life. In the beginning, my parents only started playing golf much later in their life, and I thought my mum has really improved super fast today, and my father has been struggling a little bit. My parents love being in nice surroundings and the countryside, and so on, so golf lends itself very well, and golf was never part of the equation, and opportunity for me in Switzerland. We do not have that many golf courses, I feel it’s all soccer, tennis, ice hockey, and winter sports.”

However, with time, just like Nadal and Djokovic, Federer has now also become an avid golfer. Now his golf swing looks as smooth as his legendary backhand. In June last year, he even shared a few glimpses of his golfing moments on social media with the caption, “Trying to pick up a new hobby..Wish me luck…Any pointers?”

Recently, both Roger Federer and WTA star Caroline Wozniacki made their presence felt on the lawns of Augusta, Georgia, for the historic Masters golf tournament over the weekend.

Rory McIlroy‘s long wait came to an end in this iconic golf event, as he registered a win at the Masters and completed the career grand slam – winning each of golf’s four majors. Federer highlighted McIlroy’s incredible feat, while sharing glimpses of his memorable trip to Augusta on his IG account with the caption, “Incredible to have been at @themasters this year! The energy, the setting, and the level of play were truly something special. Huge congrats to @rorymcilroy on winning the green jacket. Thanks to everyone who made the experience so memorable. Now, if you’ll excuse me… time for an emergency 9 ⛳️🏌️.“

The five-time major champion, McIlroy, is also a huge fan of the racket spot. In fact, he once revealed in an interview how he draws inspiration from tennis legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. “In my mind, I think I’m more Nadal than I am Federer. But I’m not. I just don’t have his grit and will. I don’t think anyone [does]. Roger, he just loves playing tennis. I think as I’ve gotten into the meat of my career — my 15th or 16th year on tour — I’ve really worked hard on making sure I still love the game of golf, and I don’t just see it as a job or a means to end,”  he said in an interview with CBS Sports back in 2022.

But what’s Federer up to these days? He is done with tennis, of course, but is he planning to compete against his fiercest rival, Rafael Nadal, in a different sport altogether? Well, the Frenchman, Alexandre Muller, has a very interesting piece of information for all the Fedal fans.

“He wants to beat Rafa” – ATP star spills the beans about Roger Federer’s goals on the golf course

Rafael Nadal has always maintained that golfing is one of his favorite pastimes. Last year, he even competed at the Balearic Mid-Amateur Championship and won that event by seven strokes. Roger Federer, on the other hand, has enjoyed golf mostly as a spectator. However, last few months, he has been trying his hand at the green.

Last year, French tennis star Alexandre Muller got the chance to play golf with Federer in Dubai. Recalling moments from that memorable golfing session, Muller revealed, “We were talking about golf. He was playing great. He is practicing a lot, I think he wants to beat Rafa!“

So, has golf become Federer’s favorite sport now?? Well, not really! Federer recently revealed that he still misses tennis. “I would love to play some tennis again. I’d like to start playing two or three times a week and hopefully be back on the exhibition courts. Hopefully, I can fill a couple of stadiums around the world. I don’t have any plans at the moment, but I know I need to train for it. I miss it a little, honestly, because I haven’t played much since I retired.”

The Swiss maestro was last seen in action at the 2022 Laver Cup. So, it has been a long time since the fans last saw him in a competitive fold. Recently, American tennis legend Andy Roddick also expressed his excitement for a possible exhibition match featuring Federer and Nadal. “I was pretty good at being the Washington Generals to his Globetrotters when we were playing for real stuff, so I am ready to go out there and take a beating… I don’t know who Roger is gonna play, I hope it’s Rafa cuz that’s what everyone wants to see.” 

Be it on the golf course or the tennis court, if they ever show up for a contest, Federer and Nadal will draw huge crowds. Do you think it can happen anytime soon?