Ex-tennis player scores on football debut

Just over a month after hanging up his tennis racket, Roberto Bautista Agut has returned to competitive sport on a football pitch. The 38-year-old, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, has joined Spanish seventh-tier side CD Els Ibarsos and scored twice in their pre-season match victory over opponents. The Spaniard's illustrious tennis career included 12 singles title wins and a Davis Cup triumph with his nation in 2019.

Now, Bautista Agut faces the challenge of adapting his talents to the football field. "It's a new stage of life that's making me very happy," he shared on Instagram, expressing his delight at the start of his new career. The former Villarreal youth player, who bid farewell to tennis at the age of 14, was introduced to fans prior to his debut.

CD Els Ibarsos, located about 60 miles north of Valencia, expressed their excitement at watching him play for a full season, crediting Bautista Agut for his trust in the project and hometown. The club celebrated his arrival on Instagram, thanking supporters for their presence and enthusiasm during the memorable evening. During his tennis career, Bautista Agut achieved a highest world ranking of ninth in late 2019, propelled by his last-four exit at Wimbledon earlier in the year.