Maldini doubles down on quitting

MILAN - Paolo Maldini's tennis career ended abruptly after his debut on Tuesday, which saw the soccer great lose 6-1, 6-1 in a first-round doubles match.

The 49-year-old former AC Milan and Italy star stepped onto the court at the Milan Challenger event as its most decorated athlete .

But Maldini, whose tennis dream was to "play against Roger Federer", saw his hopes dashed with a chastening loss to doubles specialists David Pel and Tomasz Bednarek while playing alongside his tennis coach, Stefano Landonio.