![](https://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Paolo+Maldini+Interreligious+Match+Peace+pU6jJjJVHVTl.jpg)
Former A.C. Milan footballer Paolo Maldini has secured a wild card for an ATP Challenger after winning a competition in his home city.
The 48-year-old will play in the doubles draw of the upcoming Milan Open alongside his coach Stefano Landonio. The two triumphed in the traditional ‘rodeo’ competition this weekend at the Aspria Harbor Club, which will host the upcoming 40,000-euro Challenger tournament. The winners of the competition are granted entry into the main draw.
“The conditions were good for play, ” Landonio told Tennis Italiano. “(It) was our first competitive engagement, but with Paolo we had already played some performances for good events .”
Since retiring from football in 2009, Maldini has developed a passion for tennis. A problematic knee injury quashed hopes of him continuing to play football post-retirement, prompting the Italian to try out other sports. In recent years Maldini has played charity exhibitions in tennis to raise money for different causes.
“I have other interests and business outside of football so I just want to have my own schedule and see what real life is,” he told Sport360 in 2015. “I can enjoy my family because I had been away for so long. I play tennis now. I love it. I did boxing for three years and that was very nice. It’s a hard but great, great sport. I really love the training aspect of it.”
During his football career, Maldini earned a reputation of being one of the most respected defenders in his native country. His 24-year spell with A.C. Milan is the second longest in Italian football history, behind Francesco Totti’s 25-year partnership with A.S Roma. During his international career, Maldini represented his country 126 times and captained Italy for a total of eight years. Some of the achievements he was part of include runner-up at the 1994 World Cup, winning five UEFA Champions League titles and seven Serie A trophies.
Whilst his life has been dedicated to football, some are wondering how successful Maldini would have been if he played tennis instead. A question that his current coach struggles to answer.
“(It’s) Hard to say. Having started playing so late, just five to six years ago, he has some technical lacuna (gap). Had he started before, working on the technique …. who knows.” Coach Landonio explained.
“For sure, by virtue of his past, he has mental and physical qualities out of the ordinary. On the mental plane he does not succumb to the delicate moments, he is really strong.”
The Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan will start on Monday, June 26th, the same day as Maldini’s 49th birthday.