Diego Forlan’s Tennis Journey: From Van Nistelrooy Match to ATP Challenger Debut at 45

Diego Forlan and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who were part of Manchester United’s 2002-03 Premier League-winning squad, once competed against each other in a tennis match. The competitive nature of footballers often extends beyond the football pitch. This competitive spirit was evident when the Manchester United strikers, Diego Forlan and Ruud van Nistelrooy, met on a tennis court at Nike’s headquarters in Portland during a pre-season tour in 2003, creating a tense atmosphere. Sir Alex Ferguson and their United team-mates observed the match, with Ferguson reportedly wagering on Forlan to win the tie-break before training. Forlan, now 45, who is preparing for his professional tennis debut in his home country of Uruguay next month, recalled the moment: “Everyone wanted to see who was going to win. I had all the pressure.” He added, “Ruud played a lot – not as much as I played, but still he knew how to play.” Despite some initial difficulties with his serve, Forlan ultimately defeated Van Nistelrooy “in the end”. What the astute Ferguson, and perhaps Van Nistelrooy, who is now an interim manager for United, might not have fully realized was Forlan’s significant tennis background. Following his retirement from football in 2019, Forlan dedicated more time to tennis, participating in the Montevideo club league with friends, primarily for fitness and social engagement. This reignited his competitive drive, leading the left-handed player to make his ITF Masters Tour debut in 2023. He currently holds the 113th position globally in the over-45s age group. A more significant achievement followed when he received a wildcard entry into the Uruguay Open doubles on the ATP Challenger Tour, which is one level below the circuit where players like Novak Djokovic compete. Forlan, who admires tennis legends such as Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, and Goran Ivanisevic, commented, “If you asked me when I was playing football if I was going to play on the ATP Tour, I would not have imagined it.” He further stated, “I didn’t know if I was going to play tennis even though it was a sport I really liked.” Forlan’s upcoming professional debut is anticipated to be a poignant occasion, as it will occur at his childhood club in the Uruguayan capital, a place where he spent countless hours during his youth. The Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club, featuring both red-clay tennis courts and grass football pitches, provided young Diego with the opportunity to pursue both of his passions. During his teenage years, football became his primary focus, leading to a professional career opportunity at Independiente. Uruguayan media previously suggested that Forlan opted for football due to the greater financial assistance it could offer his older sister, Alejandra, who was left paralyzed after a 1991 car crash that also resulted in the death of her boyfriend. An alternative theory posited that an appearance by Maradona in a fundraising match for Alejandra influenced Forlan’s decision to pursue a football career. Forlan reflects fondly on his meeting with the Argentine legend, who also played tennis with his family in Carrasco. He continues to treasure a photograph from Maradona’s visit. However, the actual reason was simpler: training schedules for both sports conflicted. Consequently, Forlan chose to follow in the footsteps of his father, Pablo, and grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazzo, both former Uruguay international footballers, by pursuing football. It is difficult to contend that this decision was not the correct one. Enrique Perez Cassarino, Forlan’s coach, stated that the former footballer possesses the “intensity, power and aptitude” required to be a professional in “any sport he decided.” Throughout his 21-year career, Forlan secured club trophies with United, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Internacional, and Penarol. Arguably his most significant individual honor was being named the best player of the 2010 World Cup, a tournament where Uruguay achieved a fourth-place finish. Forlan does not expect to achieve any significant success, let alone similar levels, on the ATP Tour. In Carrasco, he will receive guidance from the experienced Argentine Federico Coria, who was ranked 49th in singles last year; however, Forlan acknowledges that he is “not at the level” of established professional players. This will not be due to insufficient preparation. Forlan, a father of four, trains three times weekly with former Uruguay Davis Cup captain Enrique Perez, in addition to engaging in gym workouts, playing golf, and participating in casual football games. Perez commented that Forlan’s desire, drive, and dedication are “not easy to teach.” He informed BBC Sport, “It is a gift for Diego to be able to play with pro guys. But it will be tough.” Perez further elaborated, “If they play two guys who need the points and the money, they will focus on Diego for the whole match.” He concluded by stating, “He’s just going there to have fun.”