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Paolo Maldini beaten in 42 minutes on professional tennis debut

Paolo Maldini has made the jump from football to tennis - AFP
Paolo Maldini has made the jump from football to tennis - AFP

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.

Maldini, who turned 49 on Monday, and Landonio, a 46-year-old once ranked 975, 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.

As a footballer, Maldini won the Serie A title seven times and the Champions League or European Cup on five occasions. He retired from football in May 2009, aged 40.

Paolo Maldini - Credit: AFP
Maldini takes a break between games Credit: AFP