Andy Murray has taken to social media to troll Carlos Alcaraz as the world No. 2 prepares to face Sergio Garcia in a round of golf. The Spaniard is through to the US Open semi-finals and has two days to prepare for his meeting with Novak Djokovic. And in true Alcaraz style, he’ll be off to the golf course.

Alcaraz had Garcia in the stands for his match against Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday, and then told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd they’d already booked a round of golf for Wednesday. The five-time Major winner thought Garcia would only need to give him a 15-shot lead, but Murray doesn’t agree.

Speaking after his 6-4 6-2 6-4 victory in the quarters on Tuesday, Alcaraz said: “I would say I have a really difficult round tomorrow against Juanki, Sergio Garcia is there as well.

“So I have a really difficult one, but I will play for sure. I mean, he has to give me between 10 to 15 shots. I think it’s going to be great. I’m not that good, Sergio, come on!”

However, Murray believes the 2017 Masters winner will need to give Alcaraz a much bigger advantage if he wants to have any chance of winning. “I gave him about 12 shots and smoked him so I’d imagine Sergio would need to give him 25,” the 2012 US Open champion tweeted.

Alcaraz has since replied, suggesting Murray only beat him because they didn’t play one-on-one. And he set the two-time Olympic champion a challenge. “You only beat me because your partner was good! You brave enough to play me at singles?” the Spaniard asked.

Since retiring from professional tennis last summer, Murray has become an avid golfer. He’s already competed in a pro-am tournament and is set to play another at St Andrews next month.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has also been out on the course with Alcaraz, as they played a few times while the Spaniard was in London for the grass season a few weeks ago.

During his run to the Wimbledon final, Alcaraz kept fans updated on their progress. “He beat me that day. But then a few days later, we played again and I beat him. So it’s 1-1,” the Spaniard said on his way to the second week of the tournament.

Murray saw Alcaraz’s on-court interview and tweeted: “We played the deciding match this afternoon. Maybe ask him what happened after the next match.”

Sure enough, the world No. 2 was asked about their latest round of golf after his next match, and he admitted Murray won – but only because he “let him”.

Alcaraz said: “Yeah, I mean, I had to show up. I have to say, he beat me so I just – yeah. We are playing in his home so it would be really bad for him, you know, if I beat him so I let him win once. But yeah, I lost against him as a player, as a coach, on the golf course, so I’m not going to play against him any more!”

After beating Lehecka on Tuesday, Alcaraz opened up on his love for golf and his plans with Garcia. “I just feel really peaceful when I go out and playing some golf on the golf course,” he said.

“Yeah, tomorrow Sergio is here with David [Puig] as well, so we are going to play some golf. I will try to learn from them. My handicap right now is 14. It’s getting down, but it takes time. I mean, for me it’s a privilege to have time to play some golf, to be honest.”

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