Rafael Nadal once shared his love for golf, saying that it’s a great sport because it’s played in beautiful locations and carries a low risk of injury. Nadal isn’t the only tennis icon drawn to the game; many tennis players, when off the court, find themselves swinging golf clubs instead of rackets. One such moment was when Novak Djokovic joined Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup. But what about Roger Federer, the third member of the legendary “Big 3”? Has he embraced golf as well? The answer is yes!
Back in 2019, Federer spoke with professional golfer Adam Scott and admitted that golf hadn’t been a part of his life growing up. He explained that his parents only began playing later in life. While his mother seemed to improve quickly, his father found the game more challenging. Federer mentioned how his parents appreciated being in peaceful, scenic environments—something golf offers naturally. However, he pointed out that in Switzerland, golf wasn’t as accessible, with the country focusing more on soccer, tennis, ice hockey, and winter sports.
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Over time, Federer’s interest in golf grew. Much like Nadal and Djokovic, he’s become quite fond of the game. His golf swing is now being compared to the fluid grace of his legendary tennis backhand. In June of the previous year, Federer even shared a few photos of himself golfing with the caption: “Trying to pick up a new hobby… Wish me luck… Any pointers?”
More recently, both Federer and former WTA star Caroline Wozniacki were seen attending the prestigious Masters golf tournament held in Augusta, Georgia. Federer was particularly thrilled to witness Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited win at the Masters, which completed his career Grand Slam in golf. Federer shared moments from the event on social media, captioning his post: “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.”
Interestingly, Rory McIlroy himself is a fan of tennis and has often drawn motivation from tennis greats like Federer and Nadal. In a 2022 interview, McIlroy expressed that although he sees himself more like Nadal in mindset, he recognizes he doesn’t quite possess Nadal’s legendary determination. He also noted Federer’s pure joy for playing tennis, something McIlroy strives to maintain in his own golfing career.
Meanwhile, Federer may no longer be active on the tennis tour, but his competitive spirit seems alive and well—perhaps now directed at golf. French tennis player Alexandre Muller had the chance to golf with Federer in Dubai and later shared that Federer was playing impressively and practicing frequently. Muller even joked, “He wants to beat Rafa!”
Despite this newfound interest, Federer hasn’t completely turned his back on tennis. In a recent statement, he confessed that he misses playing and hopes to return to the court for exhibition matches in the future. He said he would love to play tennis two to three times a week again and hopes to entertain fans around the world, although he hasn’t started training just yet.
Federer’s last match was at the 2022 Laver Cup, making it quite a while since fans have seen him play competitively. American tennis legend Andy Roddick also recently expressed enthusiasm for a possible exhibition featuring Federer and Nadal, remarking humorously about his past matchups with Federer and hoping to see the two legends face off again—perhaps even on a golf course.
Whether it’s swinging rackets or golf clubs, any match involving Federer and Nadal is sure to attract fans. So, could the golf course be the next battleground for their iconic rivalry? Only time will tell.