Diego Forlán, ready for his debut in a professional tennis tournament: the informal chatter that motivated him and why he could enter the ATP rankings

The 2024 edition of Uruguay Openthe only tournament in Challenger’s Tour which takes place in that country, will have a truly special flavor, because it will mark its debut Diego Forlan as a professional tennis player. The former footballer, historic scorer of the Uruguayan national team and best player of the World Cup FIFA From South Africa 2010will play the doubles draw paired with the Argentine Federico Coriaafter accepting the organization’s invitation at the end of a journey that began with a brief exchange of passing words, in Carrasco lawn tennis from Montevideo, home of the competition.

“We see each other very often in society and once we met I told him “It’s great that you play here and there…”. He told me he was training a lot. And then I told him, half-jokingly and half-seriously, whether it would be fun for him to play doubles at the Uruguay Open,” he said when asked by Clarion Diego Perezdirector of the competition, which will be held from 11 to 17 November.

“He thought I was joking. But then I told him again ‘Look, if you want you’re invited’. The next day he called me and told me that it could be, but who would he play with… And the possibility arose to pair him with Coria, who is one of the best players in the tournament and, also, a friend from home . This is how it all started. Diego is very enthusiastic and very motivated. Very hard training. He also asked me if they would broadcast the match on television,” Pérez continued.

And he claimed that once Forlán saw that the invitation was serious, there was no need to convince him.

“There was no need to try it like it was a business. It was simply a matter of saying that since he is playing at a good level and is making progress, why not give himself the pleasure of doing it in a professional tournament alongside these monsters of the world circuit. And at home, his club. We talked, because I didn’t want to force him, I wanted him to be safe. And he told me about ten days ago ‘Look what I’m doing’. “It will be a new and enriching experience for him and fun for Fede,” he said.

After ending his football career in 2018, after playing for clubs such as Independent, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United AND Inter and making his mark on the Uruguayan team, Forlán returned to tennis, his old love. Last year he started playing Tour of the Masters of ITF and in June he won his first title, in the doubles of the +45 years category MT1000 of Lima, together with his compatriot Alberto Brause.

Now he will have his professional baptism and the chance to write his name in the official pairs ranking of the ATP. The fact is that if he and Coria won a match and reached the quarterfinals, they would get 20 points each, a harvest that would be enough for the Uruguayan to enter the top 1,300 in the rankings.

It wouldn’t be a big surprise if the pair managed to win the tournament. Those who have seen Forlán play, who, even though he is right-handed, handles the racket with his left, like Raphael Nadal-, they assure that he is talented and courageous. And although he hung up his shoes about six years ago, he is physically healthy, because he takes care of himself and trains like a professional athlete.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he has intensified his training since he decided to play. He is very serious in everything he does. I imagine he will train more tennis now,” commented Pérez.

Coria is more focused on his singles career: he is 101st in the world in that specialty and was a finalist Enough of 2021 AND Cordoba 2023. Although he scores in the doubles rankings from time to time. And he really liked the chance to share the pitch with the former Uruguayan footballer.

“They have a friend in common. Coria had talked about it at some point, he had said something like that ‘Look, I’m here to play with him’. And I think Diego had also told me something about Coria. When Diego confirmed to me that he was playing, we spoke to Fede, he thought it was a great idea and from there the couple was formed,” said Pérez.

THE “Mojarra“, which causes a sensation on the networks for the vlogs in which he shows the intimacy of the circuit, he will seek his second doubles trophy in the Challenger Tour of Montevideo. He won in 2016 Campinas together with another Argentine, Tomás Lipovsek Puches. Level ATPshe is 407th in the pairs rankings and has a record of 8-35, with no titles or finals.

The news of tennis player Forlán’s professional debut went around the world in just a few hours. He had a strong impact in the different countries where the striker played, but especially in Uruguay. And the tournament organization expects it to have an impact on audience participation.

“Here it is not customary to buy tickets in advance and we still don’t know when he will play. When we announce the day he will play, surely many tickets will be moved,” Pérez said. And he closed: “We are very happy, it will be a truly special evening for him, for all of us and for all the people. And let’s hope it’s a celebration of tennis.”