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Former A.C. Milan soccer star turns to pro tennis at 48

Paolo Maldini, age 49, will play an ATP Challenger doubles event

published_tag Jun 20, 2017

Paolo Maldini, the former A.C. Milan defender has five UEFA Champions League and seven Serie A titles among his many soccer accomplishments, will look to make his mark on professional tennis.

The 48-year-old Italian and his coach, former world No. 1,004-ranked doubles player Stefano Landonio, earned their way into the doubles draw for the ATP Challenger in Milan, which begins on Monday (Maldini’s 49th birthday).

It will be Maldini’s first professional tennis event after what was a long and illustrious soccer career.

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Could the same player who competed in his first match for A.C. Milan before Rafael Nadal was born manage to hang in there with professionals in a new sport?

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“Tennis I play with friends. I play more tennis now. My knees are not too good,” Maldini toldSport360 last year, adding that he's a fan of Roger Federer.

Maldini reportedly only started playing tennis "five to six years ago."

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It’s safe to say that many of the players who will compete at the Milan ATP Challenger will have that same reaction when they see Maldini's name in the draw.

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