The truth is, it’s a pleasant experience.
Forlan showed off his rackets on the ITF veteran circuit before his joyous entry into the pro world, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. For his first match, the former striker was the star guest of the doubles at the Challenger tournament in Montevideo, at home. Along with Federico Coria, he was beaten in fifty minutes (6-1, 6-2) by the Bolivians Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos. While he attacked the opposing nets, we saw him defend his own as best he could in front of an audience committed to his cause, where we noticed former teammates like Diego Lugano, and a member of the Uruguayan Davis Cup team, Ignacio Carou. Forlan even impressed spectators at several points, showing a touch of the ball as precise as his shots on a football field. “I had this opportunity to play and to have the privilege of playing in a professional tournament. I prepared myself, at least, not to have such a bad time and to be able to enjoy it; and that’s what I I did, the former striker told the press, who were present in large numbers. So I’m really grateful to all the people who came and filled the stadium. I hope they enjoyed it a little with Zeballos and Arias who are two great tennis players, with more certainties than Fede and me. I hope they enjoyed some good tennis. It’s not something I imagined or dreamed of but I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Forlan does not intend to stop with a severe defeat and will tour the ITF courts and tournaments. “The next step is to keep playing, have fun and play at ITF level, where the competition is really goodassures the dashing forty-year-old. The truth is, it’s a pleasant experience.”
