Former Manchester United and Atlético Madrid star Diego Forlán is preparing to make his professional tennis debut this November. (Michael Regan / Action Images / Reuters via CNN Newsource)
Former soccer superstar Diego Forlán, known for his time with Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, is taking on a new sporting challenge—tennis. The 45-year-old, who retired from professional soccer in 2019, is set to make his professional tennis debut this November. He will be participating in the ATP doubles event at the Uruguay Open, scheduled from November 11 to November 17.
Forlán will team up with Federico Coria, the current world No. 101 in men's singles, for the event. The Uruguay Open is part of the ATP Challenger Tour, a competitive platform for rising tennis talents and seasoned players alike. The tournament has previously been won by notable athletes, such as former US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro.
Forlán is no stranger to success. During his impressive 22-year soccer career, he collected a variety of accolades, including a Premier League title, Copa América, and Europa League trophies. He is perhaps best remembered for his remarkable performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he earned the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and was also the top scorer. Additionally, he secured the European Golden Shoe twice, an award given to the highest scorer across Europe’s top soccer leagues.
In recent years, Forlán has shifted his focus to tennis, entering tournaments through the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in the 45+ age group. He has been steadily climbing the ranks, currently sitting at No. 108 in the world for his category. This upcoming event marks his professional debut, a significant step in his evolving sports career.
Uruguay Open tournament director Diego López shared his thoughts on Forlán’s entry into tennis, stating, "He’s been preparing for quite some time, dedicating himself to tennis training. I think he truly deserves this opportunity." His commitment to honing his tennis skills reflects the same discipline and work ethic that characterized his soccer career.
Forlán is not the first soccer player to transition to tennis. Paolo Maldini, a soccer legend from Italy, made a similar move after retiring from his illustrious career, which saw him win five Champions League titles and seven Serie A titles. However, Maldini’s tennis stint in 2017 didn’t see much success—he lost his only ATP Challenger Tour match 6-1, 6-1.
There have been other dual-sport athletes, such as Rangel Rangelov from Bulgaria, who managed to succeed in both soccer and tennis. Rangelov played in two Bulgarian Cup finals as a soccer player and represented his country in two Davis Cup tennis competitions between 1956 and 1967. Forlán now hopes to leave his mark in tennis as well, following in the footsteps of such rare athletes.
While Forlán’s new venture into tennis may seem surprising, it speaks to his enduring competitive spirit and love for sports. His journey from the soccer pitch to the tennis court will surely capture the attention of fans from both sports as he embarks on this exciting new chapter.
