Diego Forlán fulfilled a dream, and tennis added one of those rare episodes that captures attention worldwide. The former captain of Uruguay’s national football team and best player of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa made his debut on the professional tennis tour.
Alongside Argentine Federico Coria, he lost 6-1, 6-2 to Bolivians Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos in Uruguay Open’s first round. But that’s just a detail. Forlán enjoyed the thrill of competing professionally in another sport, a feat few athletes can claim.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play with Fede; it’s not easy for him to enter these tournaments with an amateur beside him. I hadn’t even imagined, let alone dreamed of this. It’s wonderful to have played against professionals—it takes courage to do it,” said the former Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, and Manchester United forward in the press conference afterward.
La cálida bienvenida del Carrasco Lawn Tennis esta noche para el jugador sensación. El ídolo celeste que cambió el fútbol por el tenis y provocó que se agotaran las entradas para su debut: “De este club de siempre y para toda la vida, ¡Diego Forlán!”. @ovacionuy pic.twitter.com/GrBuGaxjOa
— Diego Domínguez 🌐 (@Digadoma) November 14, 2024
The Uruguayan displayed solid reflexes at the net and a level of play that could see him continue winning titles in the ITF senior circuit, as he already did in the doubles draw at the ITF 1000 in Lima earlier this year. He served during three games in the 49 minutes the match lasted, though he was broken each time. “I know my limitations,” he mentioned in podcast “Tenistas Sin Saque”.
The mere presence of one of Uruguay’s most iconic sports figures filled the stands at Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club’s main court, where he received ovations upon entering and leaving, and even left a few winners to remember.
“I’ll take with me a few volleys, a good smash, and some forehands during the exchanges. Overall, I’m pleased. There was a big crowd, which you don’t always see in tennis; I used to experience it in football, playing in front of 60,000 people, but in that sport is normal for me, not here,” reflected Forlán, who plays tennis left-handed. As a footballer, his dominant foot was his right.
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Videos of his points flooded social media, and the tournament—the Uruguay Open—quickly went from being just another Challenger event to a media focal point worldwide. “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,” he said.
“I felt like a tennis player for a moment,” Forlán admitted, though he isn’t sure if he’ll have a similar experience in the future. He prefers to focus his true passion at 45 were he can really be competitive: “I know I have opportunities to play ITF tournaments in the +45 category, which is where I’ve been competing. The plan is to keep at it, with people from Lawn Tennis, friends, traveling, and enjoying it.”
