By Ashiadey Dotse
Former Inter Milan striker Diego Forlán is set to make his professional tennis debut in a doubles tournament in Uruguay next month.
The 45-year-old, who stopped playing football in 2019, will compete in the Uruguay Open in Montevideo with Argentine Federico Coria as his partner.
Forlán, who was a talented tennis player in his teenage years, has recently been playing in ITF Masters events for the 45 and over age group. However, next month’s tournament is an official ATP event on the Challenger Tour, so Forlán needed a wildcard entry.
His partner Coria is ranked 101st in singles and reached a career-high of 49 in 2023. Forlán joined Manchester United in 2002 and played 98 matches for them before moving to the Spanish club Villarreal.
In Spain, he won the European Golden Shoe twice, given to Europe’s top scorer. He also won the Golden Ball award at the 2010 World Cup, where Uruguay finished third, and helped his team win the 2011 Copa America.