迭戈·弗兰将在2024年乌拉圭公开赛上迎来职业网球首秀

Diego Forlan is regarded as one of the greatest football players to come out of Uruguay.

Next week, however, he will be embarking on a new sporting adventure as he makes his professional tennis debut.

In his homeland, Forlan will compete in the doubles event at the 2024 Uruguay Open alongside Federico Coria.

The 45-year-old announced his retirement from football five years ago, after a career that spanned 21 years at some of the biggest clubs in the world.

Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and a two-year stint at Manchester United are just some of the sides that make up his impressive CV.

Accolades include being a Premier League and FA Cup winner in England and a Europa League and UEFA Super Cup winner with Atleti.

He also made over 100 appearances for his national team during his time on the pitch, helping the South Americans win the Copa America in 2011.

Despite his prowess with a ball at his feet, being on the court is something Forlan has loved since he was a child.

“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 told BBC Sport.

“I didn’t know if I was going to play tennis even though it was a sport I really liked.”

What started as a way to socialise and keep fit ignited his competitive spirit once more, leading to his ITF Masters Tour debut last year.

Now his pro-event debut is in sight, with the tournament running between 11 and 17 November 2024.

**迭戈·弗兰**被认为是乌拉圭最伟大的足球运动员之一。

然而，下周他将开启一段全新的体育冒险，迎来自己的职业网球首秀。

在他的家乡乌拉圭，弗兰将与**费德里科·科里亚**搭档，参加2024年乌拉圭公开赛的双打比赛。

现年45岁的弗兰在五年前宣布从足坛退役，结束了自己长达21年的足球生涯。期间，他曾经效力过多家世界顶级俱乐部。

国际米兰、马德里竞技、比利亚雷亚尔，以及效力过两年的红魔曼联，职业生涯可谓光彩夺目。

他的成就包括在英格兰赢得英超和足总杯冠军，以及在马竞赢得欧联杯和欧洲超级杯冠军。

作为国家队球员，他为乌拉圭队出战超过100场，并在2011年帮助国家队捧起美洲杯冠军奖杯。

尽管他在足球场上技艺超群，但是弗兰从小就对网球有着一股热爱。

他告诉BBC体育频道：“如果你在我踢球的时候问我是否会参加ATP巡回赛，我可能无法想象。我不知道自己是否会打网球，尽管这是我非常喜欢的运动。”

一开始网球只是他社交健身的方式，但最终却再次激发了他的斗志，并促使他在去年亮相ITF大师巡回赛。

现在，他的职业赛事首秀即将到来，比赛将于2024年11月11日至17日进行。