MONTEVIDEO (AP) — Diego Forlán is one of the best strikers of his generation, one who could have enjoyed an extraordinary career as a professional soccer player.
When he retired in 2010, Forlán had a prolific career playing for Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. He won the Golden Ball at the 2010 World Cup and topped the scoring charts in the competition in South Africa. He also helped lead Uruguay to their first continental title in 16 years, scoring twice in the Copa America final.
Forlán, 45, has now chosen the racket over the ball. This Wednesday, he will make his professional tennis debut on clay courts at the Uruguay Open. The tournament is part of the ATP Challenger Circuit, and he will be competing in doubles matches.
After announcing his retirement in 2019, Forlan is following in the footsteps of his father, former footballer and tennis player Pablo Forlan, and realizing a dream he had put on hold. Since then, he has rekindled his passion for tennis and has been competing in amateur Masters tournaments in his home country. Now he can make his professional debut thanks to a wildcard to the ATP Championship – an invitation from the tournament organizers.
“I’m a former soccer player trying to play tennis.” He spoke to the AP after a warm-up match at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club in Montevideo.
On the clay courts of this club, located in the upscale Carrasco neighborhood of the Uruguayan capital, the two-time Golden Shoe winner and former US champion takes his first steps as a tennis player, a passion he cherished throughout his youth.
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“Diego has been playing tennis since he was 10 or earlier. At one point he was balancing both careers until he was 14 or 15.” Forlan’s new tennis adventure coach Enrique Pérez Casarino recalled in an interview with The Associated Press.
Despite his stellar career and excellent ball-handling skills, he knows that tennis is also an inseparable part of his heritage, as he was born into a prestigious soccer family, including his soccer-loving grandfather, father, and older brother.
“I really enjoy it. I’m really happy to have the opportunity to play tennis at this beautiful club where I spent my childhood. In fact, it’s a privilege.” Forlan told the AP:
From November 11 to 17, Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club will be transformed into the venue for the Uruguay Open. It is the most important men’s professional tennis tournament in South America.
Forlan will compete in the doubles category alongside Argentina’s Federico Coria on court 10, where he often trains. “I want to have fun, I want to come here and get on this court with a lot of people, friends, family, acquaintances. I’m here to have fun.” He explained.
Despite his talent, Forlan recognizes that his passion for tennis and his football career are “very different things”. So he is convinced that the main goal with the racket is to have fun. “It’s a privilege, a luxury, a gift.” He emphasized this week in the official announcement of the competition.
He also trained in both football and tennis during his youth, recalling that “I actually spent a lot of time training for tennis,” and revealed that he ultimately chose football and turf. “If I had to choose one, I would choose football. Football has always been my first choice.”
In soccer, the world’s most popular sport, he has had an illustrious career and an enviable list of trophies, including a fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup.
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He achieved several achievements as an amateur tennis player. Since her debut on the International Tennis Federation’s veteran circuit in July 2023, she has participated in five events, reaching the individual final at this year’s MT400 in Asuncion and winning the doubles at the MT1000 in Lima.
Ahead of the start of the Challenger in Montevideo, Forlán did not make any major changes to his training routine. He “usually trains every day or four times a week,” his coach explained. But since the details of the sport were relatively new to him, he intensified his technical training.
“Diego is very stable on the baseline and has great physicality. Recently he has started spending more time and refining his skills for game situations, such as finishing points. Naturally, he has not been committed to training before. It takes time and a process to process.” Perez Casarino said.
2024-11-11 19:33:00