"I think he wants to beat Rafa!" - Alexandre Muller believes Roger Federer is taking his rivalry with Nadal to the golf course

French tennis player Alexandre Muller spent some of his downtime in Dubai on the golf course, where he revealed he went golfing with Swiss legend Roger Federer.

The World No.39 faced top seed Alexander Zverev in the first round of the BMW Munich Open on Monday, but was unable to defeat the hometown here. Zverev recorded a swift 6-4 6-1 victory, as the former Olympic champion looks to win his first title of the 2025 season.

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Federer's competitive edge extends to the golf course, says Muller

Golf appears to be a suitable past time for several stars of the ATP, and Muller is no exception. The World No.40 stated he frequently engages in the sport, and revealed he went golfing with 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer while enjoying some free time during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships earlier this year.

"He actually had a tee time 10 minutes before mine, so I was behind him for nine or ten holes," said Muller. "On the last few holes, I was with him because the guy in front of him was a bit slow. So, at the start of every hole, I was with him and we had a little chat. It was nice. We talked about golf. He was playing very well. He practices a lot, I think he wants to beat Rafa!"

Both Federer and longtime rival Rafael Nadal have retired from the sport of tennis, with Federer calling it quits in 2022 whereas Nadal hung up his racket last year. However, Nadal is known for his forays to the golf course, and has even competed in a handful of local golf tournaments. It remains to be seen if the legendary duo will ever face off on a golf course.

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