Debut in doubles at ATP Uruguay Open… defeated after a fierce battle
[서울=뉴시스] Diego Forlan participating in the doubles match at the ATP Uruguay Open Challenge tournament. (Photo = Screenshot from Diego Forlan’s Instagram) *Resale and DB prohibited.
[서울=뉴시스]Intern Reporter Hong Joo-seok = Diego Forlan, a 45-year-old striker from the Uruguayan national soccer team and known as the ‘Jabulani Master,’ debuted as a tennis player.
According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 14th (local time), Forlan played his first professional match as a tennis player.
He participated in the doubles match of the ATP Uruguay Open Challenge tournament and teamed up with Federico Corea (ranked 101st) from Argentina.
The two struggled to serve the Bolivian duo Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos, but ultimately lost 0-2 (1-6, 2-6).
Forlán, who played in front of a large crowd, said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to play with Federico.”
He added, “The atmosphere on this court, which I absolutely love, was amazing. My friends and family were here. It was very special and I enjoyed it. In that moment, I felt like I had become a tennis player.”
![[루스텐버그=AP/뉴시스]Diego Forlan of Uruguay plays during the World Cup Group A match between Mexico and Uruguay at the Royal Bafo Keng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, Tuesday, June 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) 2010.06.23](https://i0.wp.com/image.newsis.com/2010/06/22/NISI20100622_0003055830_web.jpg?w=800&ssl=1)
[루스텐버그=AP/뉴시스]Diego Forlan of Uruguay plays during the World Cup Group A match between Mexico and Uruguay at the Royal Bafo Keng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, Tuesday, June 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) 2010.06.23
Meanwhile, Diego Forlan moved to Manchester United in 2002 and scored 17 goals in 98 games.
Afterwards, he played for many prestigious soccer teams, including Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan, and continued to play soccer in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Japan, Uruguay, India, and Hong Kong, until his retirement in 2019.
He also played in 112 games for the Uruguay national team, scoring 36 goals, and was called ‘Jabulani Master’ at the 2010 South African World Cup, contributing to his country’s placing in third place.
Forlan was a promising tennis player in his youth, and is said to have continued to play tennis after announcing his retirement in 2019.
He praised himself for having achieved some success in senior-level tennis competitions and announced that he would now focus on tennis competitions for those aged 45 and older.
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