Top
Lorenzo Musetti French Open
ATP Tennis Players, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis News

‘Rafa Nadal was my idol but I switched to Roger Federer. He is the GOAT’, says Lorenzo Musetti


Lorenzo Musetti believes Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time, and revealed he changed his idol from Rafael Nadal to the Swiss star.

The 19-year-old Italian is playing at the Barcelona Open ATP 500 event as a wildcard this week – where he faces Feliciano Lopez in his first round match today.

“At first my idol was Nadal, perhaps due to the fact of being left-handed and because as a child you like to see someone with their gestures on the court, who says ‘let’s go’,” Musetti told Marca.

“I have great respect for Rafa. Then I switched to Federer because I identify with his one-handed backhand. (He) is the GOAT for me because of what he has achieved and because of his elegant way of playing. He is a role model both on and off the track.

“I was warming him (Federer) up last year for a game at the Australian Open. It is an indelible memory because we trained at the Rod Laver Arena. It was very exciting for me to meet the one who is my idol.

“It all came through Ljubicic, who knows my coach and speaks Italian. He asked me the day before, around ten at night, if (I) could train with Roger.

“Of course I was free because I had lost in the last of the previous and had signed as a ‘lucky loser’. It was a great day for me.”

(Photo credit Ray Giubilo)


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.