Uruguayan football legend Diego Forlan will soon step onto the tennis court in a special doubles match at the Uruguay Open.
Over 30 years ago, as a young teenager, Forlan got the unforgettable chance to play doubles tennis with his idol, Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
This memory, which took place on Court No. 10 at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club in Montevideo, remains close to Forlan’s heart. Now, at age 45, he returns to that same court to play with Argentina’s Federico Coria, ranked No. 104 in the world.
Reflecting on his time with Maradona, Forlan shared, “It was amazing for me to play football and tennis with him. He was very competitive, and it was a great game.”
Forlan’s partnership with Coria came about thanks to Uruguayan tennis player Ignacio Carou, who joked with Forlan about playing tennis. But when Carou set him up with Coria for the Uruguay Open, the football star couldn’t resist.
Forlan, who made a name for himself with clubs like Manchester United, Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid, has long enjoyed tennis. Although right-footed in football, he plays tennis left-handed, competing with a two-handed backhand. In the past 15 months, Forlan has played in several ITF Masters events, and he even reached the final in Paraguay recently.
When asked about his chance to play in an ATP tournament, Forlan said, “I never imagined this. It’s a privilege, and I have nothing to lose.”
Forlan will face tough competition in this one-time opportunity, but his passion for tennis and dedication to the sport make this a moment to remember for both fans of football and tennis.
