Forlan beaten on pro tennis debut
Retired footballer, Diego Forlan, lost 6-1 6-2 in 47 minutes on his professional tennis debut in a doubles event in his native Uruguay.
The former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid striker, 45, and Argentine partner Federico Coria lost to Bolivian pair
Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos after receiving a wildcard for the Uruguay Open in Montevideo.
The tournament was on the ATP Challenger Tour the level below the main ATP Tour.
Both pairs held serve to start the match, but Arias and Zeballos quickly pulled away after earning a break in the third game of the first set.
Despite loud support for Forlan, the second set followed in similar fashion with Forlan and Coria struggling to compete in their opponents’ service games and not earning a break point.
Forlan was a promising junior tennis player in his youth and returned to playing more regularly following his 20-year football career.
He played with friends in the Montevideo club league and made his debut on the ITF Masters Tour in 2023.
His partner Coria was 49th in the singles rankings last year and has previously reached the third round of the French Open. -BBC