Former footballer Paolo Maldini's professional tennis debut ended in defeat at the Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan.
The Italy and AC Milan great earned a wild card into the doubles event at the ATP Challenger tournament -- one level below the main tour -- after winning a qualifier with partner and coach Stefano Landonio.
Here's the first point, with Maldini wearing the orange shirt:
First point for Paolo Maldini (🎥@ATPChallenger ) pic.twitter.com/wfVnWDBmG3
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) June 27, 2017
Maldini, who turned 49 on Monday, and Landonio, a 46-year-old once ranked No. 975 in the world, were never likely to offer too much resistance against Poland's Tomasz Bednarek and Dutchman David Pel.
Sure enough, the match was one-sided, but Maldini and Landonio did manage to win two games in a 6-1, 6-1 defeat that lasted 42 minutes.