New life for Diego Forlan. The former Atletico Madrid and Inter striker, after retiring in 2019, started a new careerthis time in tennis. The Uruguayan, always a great racket lover, made his debut on the ATP circuit yesterday, Wednesday 13 November, atUruguay OpenChallenger tournament held in Montevideo.
Forlan, 45, played in doubles together with the Argentine Federico Coria, 33 years old in 101st place in the ATP ranking, but lost against the Bolivians Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos. The match in fact ended in two sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2 and just 46 minutes played. Forlan’s debut was greeted with enthusiasm by the Uruguayan public, who filled the stands and cheered for the former national team centre-forward. After the match Diego took the microphone and thanked everyone present, while Coria said he was “honored to have shared the field with a Uruguayan football legend“.
From Jordan to Valentino Rossi and Bolt: all the athletes who have changed sports
Diego Forlan is only the latest of a long list of athletes who changed sports. The most illustrious is undoubtedly the case of Michael Jordan. After winning three NBA titles and as many MVPs with the Chicago Bulls, the one who is considered the greatest basketball player of all time decided, in 1993, to leave the American parquet to dedicate himself to baseball. Jordan is then signed by Chicago White Soxone of the most important teams in Major League Baseball, but its adventure is not very successful and lasts only a year and a half. MJ then returns to the NBA and wins three more championships with the Bulls.
In Italy it is undoubtedly an example of sporting versatility Valentino Rossi. The former rider, who won nine titles in MotoGP, reinvented himself once he abandoned motorbikes rally drivera passion that he also cultivated during his career on two wheels. Rossi had in fact already made his debut in the World Championship in 2002, later managing to win the championship seven times. Monza rallythe last time in 2018. After retiring Valentino participated in the World Endurance Championship, the GT World Challenge Europe and some Endurance races of the 24H Series and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Also Usain Boltafter retiring from athletics, he tried to change his life. The Jamaican sprinter, who in his career has won eight Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and relay races, has decided to follow his dream of becoming professional footballer. Bolt, always a great Manchester United fan, played a charity match at Old Trafford and was signed by several clubs around the world, who sensed the opportunity mainly for marketing reasons. Bolt first played in Norway with Stromsgodset, then moved to Australia with the Central Coast Mariners. In the end however, after having also trained with the Borussia Dortmunddecided to retire, admitting, “I don’t want to say I didn’t believe it, but I think we didn’t do it the way we should have. I still learned the lesson, you live and you learn.”
Brief experience in professional tennis also for Paolo Maldiniwho made his doubles debut in the Milan Challenger, but retired immediately after the defeat. The former Chelsea goalkeeper is still active Petr Cechwho defended the posts of the Guildford Phoenix, the English ice hockey team. He also reinvented himself Gareth Balewho after the controversy for his “Wales first, then golf and then Real Madrid”, became a professional golfer. Rio FerdinandManchester United legend, once he hung up his boots he dedicated himself to boxing, while the former Inter Ivan Perisic he made his debut in beach volleyball.
Another old acquaintance from Serie A, Gabriel Omar Batistuta, he dabbled in polo, with a brief stint also among the professionals. Primoz Roglicbefore becoming a cyclist, he was making a name for himself on skis. Tyson Gay instead he left athletics for luge. The former Formula 1 driver Jenson Button today he enjoys triathlon, an IronMan discipline. Incredible stories are those of Bo Jackson e Deion Sanderswho in the 1990s were able to play American football and baseball at the same time.
