Diego Forlan’s name is synonymous with football success—be it at Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, or on the global stage with Uruguay. But today, Forlan is embracing a new chapter, not on the football pitch, but on the tennis court. The man who terrorised defenders with his two-footed prowess is now taking on a different type of opponent, this time with a racket in hand.

And it turns out, Forlan has been playing tennis competitively for some time, recently making his professional tennis debut in the men’s doubles at the Uruguay Open, an ATP Challenger Tour event. This step into professional tennis isn’t just a novelty for the 45-year-old; it’s a passion that has reignited a love for a sport he once seriously considered pursuing as a career.

Forlan’s history with tennis actually stretches back to his childhood, where he was a promising player before opting to pursue a career in football. And his tennis skills didn’t stay hidden for long, even during his days as a professional footballer. In fact, one of Forlan’s most high-pressure tennis moments came in 2003, not long after he joined Manchester United.

While on a pre-season tour in the United States, Forlan found himself challenged to a tennis match by his United teammate, Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. Sir Alex Ferguson, United’s legendary manager, even put money on Forlan winning the match, knowing of his tennis background. Despite the pressure and the entire squad watching—including stars like Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes—Forlan managed to come out on top in a tense tiebreaker.

“I had to win,” Forlan recalls with a laugh. “Everyone expected me to, but inside, I was thinking, ‘I really have to win!’ Sir Alex was cheering for me the whole time.”

The competitive Van Nistelrooy, who famously didn’t take defeat well—even if United won—was likely less pleased with the outcome than Ferguson. For Forlan, however, it was another reminder of his deep connection with tennis, a sport he couldn’t leave behind.

Fast forward to today, and Forlan is channeling that same competitiveness into his matches on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters Tour, where he competes in the 45+ category. Forlan’s performances on the tour are impressive for someone who dedicated most of his life to football. He’s regularly playing at the highest levels of the tour, going up against former coaches, college-level players, and even some who once gained ATP points in their professional careers.

Forlan has played in several Masters tournaments across South America, including in Montevideo and Lima, where he has shown remarkable improvement. In his most recent tournament in Lima, he reached the singles quarter-finals, winning his first three matches handily. In doubles, he and his partner clinched the title without dropping a set.

The ITF Masters Tour is a non-professional competition, though some events offer prize money to cover expenses. For Forlan, though, this isn’t about financial gain—it’s about the challenge and love of the game.

Even though Forlan has swapped his football boots for tennis shoes, his competitiveness remains intact. He trains rigorously, playing four times a week at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club in Montevideo—the very club where he learned to play as a child. He has also enlisted the help of his friend and former Uruguayan Davis Cup captain, Enrique “Bebe” Perez, to coach him.

“I need something where I can run,” Forlan explains. “Golf is great, but I need something more similar to football. Tennis gives me that same adrenaline.”

Forlan’s athletic background certainly gives him an edge on the court. As a footballer, he was known for his fitness, speed, and technical ability—skills that are easily transferable to tennis. His rigorous training in tennis has paid off, and Forlan is now winning many of the club tournaments that once saw him eliminated in the early rounds.

And while he’s competing in front of much smaller crowds than he did during his footballing days, Forlan’s passion for tennis is just as strong. He relishes the thrill of competition, even if it’s just a few hundred tennis fans in attendance.

Forlan’s football career speaks for itself. At Manchester United, he overcame a slow start to become a cult hero, scoring crucial goals, including a memorable double against Liverpool at Anfield. After leaving United, he became one of the top strikers in Spain, winning the Pichichi Trophy (La Liga’s top scorer award) twice—once with Villarreal and again with Atletico Madrid. His two goals in the 2010 Europa League final helped Atletico defeat Fulham and secured his status as one of the game’s elite strikers.

Forlan’s international career was just as decorated. He scored five goals at the 2010 World Cup, leading Uruguay to the semi-finals and earning the tournament’s Golden Ball as its best player. He retired from professional football in 2019 with over 300 goals to his name, but it seems his sporting journey is far from over.

Despite his focus on tennis, Forlan still keeps a close connection with football. He’s the owner of a third-division Uruguayan football club, and he regularly travels as an ambassador for Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, and La Liga. Forlan also finds time to play football locally in an amateur team. However, tennis has become his new sporting focus, and he’s taking the sport seriously.

Switching from football to tennis hasn’t been without its challenges, particularly when it comes to the mental side of the game. Forlan admits that in football, his instinct was always to strike as soon as a chance presented itself, but tennis requires patience. In the beginning, he often rushed to hit winners, a habit that cost him matches. Now, though, he’s learning to wait for the right moment, improving his shot selection and overall understanding of the game.

“I’m starting to know and understand tennis better,” Forlan says. “I’ve had to rewire my brain, to learn that in tennis, you have to wait for the right ball, not go for it straight away like in football.”

Forlan’s ITF ranking continues to rise as he plays more tournaments, currently sitting at No. 108 for singles and No. 88 for doubles in the 45+ age category. He’s determined to keep improving and is setting his sights on competing at higher levels within the Masters Tour.

Forlan even has a dream of attending Wimbledon—this time as a spectator, of course. But for a man who has already excelled in two different sports, who’s to say what the future holds?

As Forlan continues to master tennis, he embodies the mindset of a true competitor—always eager for a new challenge, always hungry for improvement. Whether on the football pitch or the tennis court, Diego Forlan continues to prove that he is an athlete of the highest calibre.