Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan is making a remarkable transition from football to tennis, announcing his ATP tennis debut in the doubles at the Uruguay Open in Montevideo next month. The 45-year-old World Cup golden ball winner will partner with Federico Coria in the Challenger event.
Before choosing football, Forlan was a talented junior tennis player. He’s now found success at the masters level, reaching a final in Paraguay in August and ranking 108th in the International Tennis Federation’s rankings for players aged 45 and over.
Forlan retired from football in 2019 after playing for Kitchee in Hong Kong, Japan, India, and renowned clubs like Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Internacional in Brazil. His football legacy includes becoming a cult hero at United and starring in Uruguay’s 2010 World Cup semi-final run.
“I need something where I can run,” Forlan told The Athletic. “Tennis is similar to football. I started training and playing, and I was getting better and better.” He’s now winning club tournaments, a far cry from his early days of losing in the first round.
Uruguay Open Details starts from November 11-17, 2024 in Montevideo, Uruguay.