Football legend Diego Forlán set to make shocking professional tennis debut at 45

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45-year-old former football star Diego Forlán is getting ready for a new chapter in professional tennis.

After a decorated career in football, Forlán is stepping onto the tennis court at the Uruguay Open this November.

Partnering with Argentina’s Federico Coria, Forlán will compete in the men’s doubles event in Montevideo, his hometown. Despite being an ATP Challenger Tour event, the Uruguay Open has its share of talented players, including Coria, a former top 50 singles player.

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Forlán’s participation has been confirmed by the tournament’s organisers as the athlete marks a unique career transition. He has been active on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) senior tour since retiring from football in 2018.

Interestingly, Forlán’s love for tennis goes way back to his childhood. Reigniting this passion helped him find the same adrenaline rush he once felt on the football pitch.

Reflecting on this, he mentioned how tennis filled a void after football: “Nothing compares to football’s intensity, but tennis comes close.”

Regularly playing at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club in Montevideo, Forlán has honed his skills, using an aggressive baseline game in his singles matches. His tennis dreams were fueled after he grew up watching legends like Federer and Nadal play at the same Club.

Forlán enjoyed a successful football career

In his football career, Forlán enjoyed success at Manchester United and later Villarreal and Atlético Madrid. He won the prestigious Pichichi Trophy for top scorer in La Liga with both Spanish teams.

Uruguay’s third-highest goalscorer with 36 international goals, Forlán also shined in the 2010 World Cup. His five-goal performance earned him the Golden Ball.

For now, Forlán’s focus shifts entirely to tennis.

Tags: Diego Forlán, tennis, ATP Challenger Tour, International Tennis Federation, ITF, Federico Coria, Uruguay Open, Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club, Montevideo, Pichichi Trophy, Manchester United, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, La Liga, 2010 World Cup Golden Ball, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcsports.