The world No.1 resisted a spirited challenge from Yannick Hanfmann to subdue the veteran German 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-2 in two hours and 45 entertaining minutes on Wednesday.
Already boasting two French, two Wimbledon and two US Open titles, the 22-year-old needs an elusive AO crown to become the youngest player in history to complete a career grand slam.
But such is his want, the super Spaniard is seemingly spending as much time on his golf game as his tennis on his down days in Melbourne.
So in control of his silky tennis game, Alcaraz revealed after his second-round victory on Wednesday he'd been hitting the fairways with the great Roger Federer rather than practise forehands or backhands.
"We're trying to make the most of the days off, practising a little bit if we're able to do it with the body, allow us to practise in those days off," he said.
"So I don't know what's coming tomorrow, to be honest. I don't know if I'm going to practise. I've got to talk with my team probably."
Asked how Federer's golf swing shaped, Alcaraz said: "As beautiful as the tennis.
"It's unbelievable. Everything he does, he does in a style really beautiful. He plays really, really good.
"I think he's been playing for two years now and his level is really, really good for two years.
"I've been playing five (years) and already he beat me, so it hurts."
Spending so much on Melbourne's famous sandbelts might explain why Alcaraz struggled to get going against Hanfmann.
He needed some 78 minutes to rally from a service break down and keep Hanfmann at bay and pocket a high-quality first set.
But the epic opening took its toll on the 34-year-old, who needed physio treatment for an ankle issue and then a medical time-out for an apparent shoulder problem.
Hanfmann did well to continue troubling the six-time grand slam champion, but Alcaraz almost inevitably wrapped up the match.
The Spaniard next faces either French world No.32 Corentin Moutet or American qualifier Michael Zheng on Friday for a place in the last 16.
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