Alexander Zverev reveals what he and Carlos Alcaraz’s golf handicaps are

While the intensity of Indian Wells usually stays confined to the purple hard courts, a different kind of rivalry has been brewing under the California sun.

Away from the intensity and high stakes of this esteemed tournament, the world’s elite have found a new way to keep their competitive juices flowing during the tournament’s downtime.

The camaraderie among the tour’s top stars is often hidden behind a veil of professional focus, but a recent excursion to the golf course provided a rare glimpse into their life off the clock.

That’s because Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev decided to take some time away from the tournament to play a round of golf.

What Alexander Zverev thinks Carlos Alcaraz’s golf handicap is

Djokovic brought this round of golf to light yesterday, and it was put to Alexander Zverev in a press conference following his match with Frances Tiafoe.

The German revealed that this match between him and Alcaraz was not a one-off. He said, “Me and Carlos played every day, almost, actually. Novak joined us two days ago.

“Yeah, it was fun. Me and Carlos are very competitive, we’re on a similar level. I’m about an 8. Something, and he’s similar to that. So we get quite competitive matches out of it.

“Then, yeah, Novak joined us, as well, which was quite fun.”

Djokovic himself said he wasn’t on the level of his two playing partners, but it’s still funny to hear Zverev say how good Alcaraz is, and then said Novak joined us too!

The best golfing tennis players

Alcaraz and Zverev aren’t alone as tennis players who have taken to golf. The crossover between tennis and golf is a storied one, driven by the shared requirements of rotational power, hand-eye coordination, and mental fortitude.

While many pros enjoy the links as a hobby, a few have reached a level that borders on professional. Mardy Fish is widely considered the best golfer to ever come from the ATP Tour.

After reaching World No. seven in tennis, Fish turned his focus to golf, winning multiple celebrity tournaments (including the American Century Championship). In 2022, he became the first person to compete on both the ATP Tour and the PGA Tour when he played the 3M Open on a sponsor’s exemption.

When three-time Grand Slam champion Ash Barty retired at world number one in 2022, rumours swirled that she might turn pro in golf. She is a scratch-level player who has won a ladies’ club championship at Brookwater in Australia. Golf legend Karrie Webb has even remarked that Barty has the talent to be an amateur champion.

Rafael Nadal also brings a near-pro level to the course. He plays to a 0.3 handicap and has finished as high as sixth in the Balearic Golf Championships, a professional-level mid-amateur event in Spain.

Pete Sampras translated his fluid service motion into a powerful golf swing. He has long played to a scratch or near-scratch handicap (roughly 0.5) and is a frequent participant in Pro-Am events.

And post-retirement, Ivan Lendl became obsessed with the game, playing to a low single-digit handicap and even competing in several professional senior qualifiers and celebrity tours.