Former Manchester United forward Diego Forlán is geared up to make his professional tennis debut at next month's Uruguay Open. The 45-year-old football legend will team up with Argentine player Federico Coria for the doubles event, bringing his competitive spirit to the tennis court in his home country.
An announcement from the tournament organizers excitedly declared: "Attention tennis and sports fans! This year at the Uruguay Open, we have an UNMISSABLE duo in doubles: Argentine tennis player Federico Coria and former Uruguayan football player Diego Forlan."
The Uruguay Open will be played at the Challenger Tour level, the second-highest professional tier in tennis. Coria, who boasts a career-high singles ranking of 49, will be a valuable partner for Forlán as they aim to win the doubles event.
Forlán, a cult hero at Manchester United, is fondly remembered for his impactful moments on the football field. He famously scored both goals in a memorable 2-1 victory against Liverpool in December 2002, followed by a dramatic 90th-minute winner against Chelsea, which helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s team clinch the Premier League title.
Interestingly, Forlán's journey echoes that of his father, who also transitioned from football to tennis after retiring. “My father played football, and after retiring at 41, he took up tennis. That’s why I started playing at the age of two. Everyone knows I dedicated myself to football before returning to this sport as diligently as I now do,” Forlán has shared. Football fans around the world will be very interested to see how the footballing legend gets on.
Major League Soccer (MLS) commenced its 30th season with a historic opening weekend, recording an unprecedented 46 goals across 15 matches, surpassing the previous record of 41 goals in 12 games set in 2019.
Notable high-scoring encounters included Columbus Crew's 4-2 victory over Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union's 4-2 win against Orlando City.
Additionally, San Jose Earthquakes delivered a commanding 4-0 performance against Real Salt Lake, while Vancouver Whitecaps secured a 4-1 triumph over Portland Timbers.
In contrast, nine teams were unable to find the net, including reigning champions LA Galaxy, who suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat to debutants San Diego FC.
Reflecting on the weekend's events, MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated, "This record-breaking start showcases the attacking talent and competitive spirit present in our league."
Individual performances also stood out, with seven players netting braces, indicating a fierce competition for the Golden Boot this season.
Emmanuel Latte Lath, Atlanta United's record signing, made an immediate impact by scoring twice in their 3-2 win over CF Montréal.
Similarly, Anders Dreyer marked San Diego FC's league debut with a memorable double against LA Galaxy.
Atlanta United's head coach, Gonzalo Pineda, praised Latte Lath's contribution, noting, "Emmanuel's performance today exemplifies the quality and excitement he brings to our squad."
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