Former footballer Forlan beaten on pro tennis debut

Retired footballer Diego Forlan lost 6-1 6-2 in 47 minutes on his professional tennis debut in a doubles event in his native Uruguay.

The former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid striker, 45, and Argentine partner Federico Coria lost to Bolivian pair Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos after receiving a wildcard for the Uruguay Open in Montevideo.

The tournament was on the ATP Challenger Tour – the level below the main ATP Tour.

“I hadn’t even imagined, let alone dreamed of this,” said Forlan, via claytennis.com, external. “It’s wonderful to have played against professionals.”

Both pairs held serve to start the match, but Arias and Zeballos quickly pulled away after earning a break in the third game of the first set.

Despite loud support for Forlan, the second set followed in similar fashion with Forlan and Coria struggling to compete in their opponents’ service games and not earning a break point.

“The atmosphere on this court that I love so much was incredible; my friends, my family were here. It was very special, and I enjoyed it,” Forlan said.

“I felt like a tennis player for a moment.”

Forlan was a promising junior tennis player in his youth and returned to playing more regularly following his 20-year football career.

He played with friends in the Montevideo club league and made his debut on the ITF Masters Tour in 2023.

His partner Coria was 49th in the singles rankings last year and has previously reached the third round of the French Open.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play with Fede,” Forlan said.

“It’s not easy for him to enter these tournaments with an amateur beside him.”