Carlos Alcaraz may be just 22 years old, but he is already writing himself into the history books as one of the most electrifying champions tennis has ever seen. At this year’s US Open in New York, the Spaniard lifted his sixth Grand Slam trophy, defeating rival Jannik Sinner in a final that showcased power, poise, and an unstoppable belief that he belongs at the very top of the sport.

Yet while the world saw Alcaraz dominating the hard courts at Flushing Meadows, something unexpected was happening off-camera. Just days before hoisting the trophy, the world No. 1 was not sharpening his backhand or grinding through another practice session. Instead, he was on the golf course, locked in a playful yet competitive £150 ($200) wager with none other than Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion and one of Spain’s most recognizable golf legends.

It was an unlikely pairing, a meeting of two athletes at the peak of their respective sports. And it may just offer a deeper glimpse into what fuels Alcaraz’s relentless drive: the ability to balance intensity with lighthearted competition, to find calm in the middle of chaos, and to embrace challenges that extend beyond his own sport.

A Champion’s Calm Before the Storm

For many, the days leading up to a Grand Slam final would be filled with endless hitting sessions, video analysis, and last-minute tactical tweaks. Pressure builds, nerves mount, and athletes often retreat into themselves.

Not Alcaraz.

While his peers may have been visualizing forehands and second serves, the Spaniard was teeing off on a golf course, laughing, joking, and testing his skills in a different arena. Garcia, who was spotted courtside cheering him on during his late-stage matches, proposed the idea of a casual round. But with two fierce competitors involved, “casual” only lasted a few minutes before the stakes were raised.

Reports suggest the two agreed on a £150 prize for their golf battle—a sum insignificant compared to the millions on offer in New York, but meaningful enough to ignite the spirit of competition.

“It was about pride more than money,” one insider close to the pair remarked. “Carlos wanted to show Sergio that tennis players can hold their own with a golf club. Sergio, of course, wasn’t about to make it easy for him.”

Golf as the Secret Weapon

If you think of golf as a leisurely hobby, you may be underestimating how crucial it has become for many elite athletes. Golf demands patience, precision, and the ability to shake off mistakes instantly—skills that mirror the mental battles faced on a tennis court.

For Alcaraz, who plays with an energy that borders on fearless, golf offers something different: stillness. In a sport where points are decided in fractions of a second, golf slows him down. It forces him to breathe, to visualize, and to execute with control.

Observers noted that during his two-week run at the US Open, Alcaraz seemed unusually composed—even in tense moments against Sinner, where the crowd roared and momentum swung back and forth. Could those quiet hours on the golf course have been the grounding force he needed?

Sergio Garcia’s Courtside Presence

Garcia, who has known Alcaraz’s family for years, is more than just a casual fan. He has become something of a mentor figure, showing up to matches, sitting among the Spaniard’s entourage, and offering words of encouragement.

When Garcia appeared courtside at Flushing Meadows, cameras quickly caught his reactions. He was locked in, fist-pumping at Alcaraz’s winners and grimacing when unforced errors crept in. For a golf veteran who has experienced the highest highs and lowest lows of sport, watching Alcaraz seemed personal—like he was witnessing the next great chapter in Spanish athletic history.

“Carlos is special,” Garcia has said in the past. “Not just because of his talent, but because of his mentality. He reminds me of Rafa [Nadal] in that way. He embraces competition. He doesn’t fear it.”

The Duel Nobody Expected

So how did the golf showdown actually play out? Neither side has revealed the final score, but Alcaraz reportedly held his own against Garcia, who has spent decades perfecting his swing on the PGA Tour.

Spectators who caught glimpses of the match said Alcaraz’s competitive fire was evident. He celebrated long putts with the same fist pumps fans see on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Garcia, ever the showman, teased him relentlessly, but also admired his natural swing.

“Give him a few more years and he’ll be dangerous,” Garcia allegedly joked afterward.

For Alcaraz, the result may not have mattered as much as the lesson. Competing in golf gave him a fresh challenge just before stepping into the most pressurized environment in tennis. By the time he faced Sinner under the lights in New York, he had already been through another kind of battle—one that reminded him to play with joy, to compete without fear, and to embrace the moment.

The Bigger Picture

This is what separates Alcaraz from so many others on tour. He’s not defined by rigid routines or consumed by pressure. Instead, he thrives in spontaneity. One moment he’s blasting forehands past rivals, the next he’s teeing off with a Masters champion.

It’s a mindset that echoes his hero Rafael Nadal, who has long spoken about the importance of staying grounded and finding joy outside the court. By surrounding himself with figures like Garcia, Alcaraz isn’t just sharpening his skills—he’s building a lifestyle that sustains him through the grind of professional tennis.

A Champion Who Plays Beyond the Court

When Alcaraz lifted the US Open trophy, smiling through the confetti as the Spanish flag waved in the stands, the world celebrated another dominant triumph. But those who knew about his golf outing with Garcia saw something deeper.

It was proof that champions aren’t built in isolation. They thrive by embracing challenges in all forms, by seeking out joy even in the most high-pressure moments, and by daring to step outside the box.

For Carlos Alcaraz, the road to Grand Slam glory didn’t just run through Flushing Meadows. It also wound its way across a quiet golf course in New York, where a young tennis star and a legendary golfer shared laughs, traded shots, and stoked the competitive fire that would carry him to another historic victory.