Diego Forlan, the Uruguayan soccer legend who captivated fans at the 2010 World Cup, has embarked on a surprising new chapter in his sporting career. At the age of 45, Forlan made his ATP Challenger Tour debut in Montevideo, partnering with Federico Coria in doubles.
Forlan, a lifelong tennis enthusiast, had never imagined playing professionally in the sport. “If you asked me when I was playing football if I was going to play a professional tournament on the ATP, I wouldn’t have imagined that,” he said.
Despite his lack of competitive experience, Forlan’s debut was met with immense enthusiasm from the crowd. The former Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Manchester United striker was considered one of the greatest strikers of his generation, earning numerous scoring awards before retiring from soccer in 2019.
Forlan’s transition to tennis began six years later, when he started competing on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour. Despite being right-footed in soccer, he is left-handed in tennis.
Forlan and Coria received a wild card into the Montevideo Challenger, but their journey was cut short by Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos, who won 6-1, 6-2 in just 49 minutes.
Undeterred by the result, Forlan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside Coria. “It’s not easy for him to enter these tournaments with an amateur beside him,” he said.
Forlan’s debut was a testament to his passion for tennis and his willingness to embrace new challenges. “I hadn’t even imagined, let alone dreamed of this,” he said. “It’s wonderful to have played against professionals—it takes courage to do it.”
