Former Manchester United forward, Diego Forlan, is gearing up to make his professional tennis debut in an ATP doubles event set to take place in Montevideo, Uruguay. The 45-year-old, who retired from football in 2019, is no stranger to tennis as he showed promise as a junior player and has continued playing the sport even after his football career ended.
Forlan is scheduled to partner with Argentina’s Federico Coria in the doubles event at the upcoming Uruguay Open second-tier ATP Challenger starting on November 11. The tournament’s Instagram account made the announcement, highlighting the exciting collaboration between Coria, currently ranking at number 78 in the ATP ranking, and the former Uruguayan football star.
Diego Forlan made a name for himself in football after signing with Manchester United from Argentinian club Independiente in 2002. He was a key player in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad that clinched the 2003 Premier League title and the 2004 FA Cup. With 98 appearances and 17 goals for United, Forlan went on to play for Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, as well as clubs in Brazil, Japan, Uruguay, India, and Hong Kong throughout his illustrious career.
On the international stage, Forlan represented Uruguay and scored 36 goals in 112 matches. He notably finished as the joint top goalscorer at the 2010 World Cup, where Uruguay secured a third-place finish, and also helped his national team win the 2011 Copa America.
Diego Forlan’s upcoming professional tennis debut is generating significant buzz among fans of both football and tennis, as they anticipate seeing how the seasoned athlete transitions into a new sporting arena. Stay tuned as Forlan prepares to showcase his skills in a different setting, bringing his competitive spirit and athleticism to the tennis court in Montevideo.