Paolo Maldini: Former Italy defender beaten on pro tennis debut
Last updated on .From the section European Football
AC Milan and Italy great Paolo Maldini's professional tennis debut ended in defeat at the Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan.
Maldini and doubles partner Stefano Landonio lost 6-1 6-1 to Poland's Tomasz Bednarek and Dutchman David Pel.
The 49-year-old earned a place at the tournament with Landonio, who is also his coach, by winning a qualifier.
The Milan event is part of the Challenger Tour, one tier below the top-level ATP World Tour.
Landonio, 46, was once ranked 975th in the world, and has coached Maldini since he retired from football.
Maldini, capped 126 times by Italy, made his AC Milan debut in 1985, and played his final Serie A match for them in May 2009, a month before his 41st birthday.
A defender, he won seven Serie A titles with Milan, as well as the Champions League - or the European Cup, as it previously was - five times.
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Happy to see him enjoying retirement!
Good on him, looks like he has a desire to be fit and compete in whatever sport he can.
He'll be the 75 year old doing star jumps in the post office queue in between spin classes !!
It's a nice story in terms of showing how applying yourself can lead to remarkable results.
Ok they lost heavily, but I'm sure they learned a lot and hope they try and qualify for another event.
calm down love.
@26
Don't worry , I'm sure the BBC will soon be forcing 'Trans' world sport down our throats soon enough, but I don't think it will be quite the same as you remember ;)
Can't see Maldini making it to Wimbledon anytime soon, but good luck to him nonetheless - he's certainly earned the chance to have some fun!