'I switched from Nadal to Federer, he is my favorite player,' said Musetti

The 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti scored his eighth ATP victory in Barcelona, beating the veteran Feliciano Lopez in straight sets to advance into the second round.

The youngster needed 69 minutes to topple the Spaniard 6-4, 6-3, losing serve once and delivering three breaks that carried him over the top. Speaking about his idols, Musetti said that he preferred Rafael Nadal when he was younger, cheering for the Spaniard and liking his fighting spirit. Still, the Italian changed his mind and started to fancying Roger Federer because of his one-handed backhand and elegancy. For Lorenzo, Roger is a role model both on and off the court, and he felt honored when they trained together in Melbourne last year.

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"At first, Rafa Nadal was my idol, perhaps due to the fact of being left-handed and because as a child you like to see someone with gestures on the court, who says 'let's go.' I have great respect for Rafa. Then I switched to Federer because I identify with his one-handed backhand. Roger is the GOAT for me because of what he has achieved and his elegant way of playing. He is a role model both on and off the track.

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I was warming Federer ahead of one Australian Open match. It is an unforgettable memory because we trained at the Rod Laver Arena. It was fascinating for me to meet 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 lost in the qualifying round and signed as a lucky loser. It was a great day for me," Lorenzo Musetti said.