Bautista Agut scores twice on football debut for CD Els Ibarsos
Synopsis
Weeks after retiring from tennis, former world No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut scored twice on his football debut for Spanish seventh-tier side CD Els Ibarsos. The 38-year-old, a 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist and Davis Cup winner, had previously played youth football for Villarreal — and his first match suggests the transition is off to a remarkable start.
Key Takeaways
Roberto Bautista Agut , 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist, scored twice on his football debut for CD Els Ibarsos in a 4-2 win.
The 38-year-old Spaniard retired from professional tennis just over a month before the match.
Bautista Agut previously played youth football for Villarreal before pursuing a tennis career.
He won 12 singles titles , reached a career-high ATP ranking of No.
9 , and won the Davis Cup with Spain in 2019 .
CD Els Ibarsos is based approximately 60 miles north of Valencia and competes in Spain's seventh tier .
Roberto Bautista Agut, the 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist who retired from professional tennis just over a month ago, marked his football debut with a brace as Spanish seventh-tier club CD Els Ibarsos defeated their opponents 4-2. The 38-year-old Spaniard, who spent 16 years inside the ATP Top 100, is now embarking on a new athletic chapter in a sport he last played at youth level.
A Debut to Remember
Bautista Agut netted twice in Els Ibarsos's 4-2 victory, delivering an immediate return on the club's faith in signing the former tennis star. CD Els Ibarsos, based approximately 60 miles north of Valencia, had signed him with the hope that he would be available for the full season. The club celebrated the signing on Instagram, writing: 'It's official: Roberto Bautista Agut is a C.D. Els Ibarsos player. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us and create a great atmosphere on an unforgettable evening. And thank you, Roberto, for putting your trust in this project and this town.'
From Tennis Courts to Football Pitches
Bautista Agut is no stranger to football — he played youth football for Villarreal before choosing tennis as his primary career. His tennis CV is formidable: 12 singles titles, a Wimbledon semifinal in 2019, a quarterfinal at the Australian Open 2019, a career-high ATP ranking of No. 9, and a Davis Cup winners' medal with Spain in 2019. He also holds a notable 5-2 head-to-head record against 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, and has beaten the likes of Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Marin Cilic during his career.
Why He Walked Away from Tennis
Bautista Agut announced his retirement from tennis roughly a month before his football debut, citing the physical and mental toll of elite competition. 'There comes a time when your body and mind say enough,' he said in an interview with ATPTour.com. 'You have to know how to listen to yourself and step away from the Tour when the time is right. I don't think I'm physically in the same shape as I used to be either. Given the state my body is in, I can't cope with four or five matches a week. It's time,' he added.
His Toughest Rivals, Remembered
Reflecting on his career, Bautista Agut identified compatriot Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros as his most formidable challenge. 'His spin, the power of his shots, they'd crash into your racquet. If you didn't hit it properly, you'd slice it because it came with so much spin,' he said. He also singled out Djokovic's backhand and court coverage, and Roger Federer's speed, anticipation, and variety as qualities that set each apart.
What Comes Next
Reacting to his debut on Instagram, Bautista Agut wrote: 'It's a new stage of life that's making me very happy. May the good start continue!' With two goals already to his name, the former world No. 9 appears to have made a seamless transition — at least for now. Whether he can sustain that form across a full seventh-tier season remains to be seen, but the opening night has already exceeded expectations.
Point of View
But it also raises a genuine question about what elite athletic careers look like in their afterlives. A seventh-tier Spanish club is a long way from Centre Court, yet the physical demands of a full football season — even at that level — are not trivial for a 38-year-old body that, by his own admission, could no longer handle four or five matches a week in tennis. The bigger story here may not be the goals, but whether a former top-10 player can sustain this commitment through winter fixtures and midweek travel. If he does, it reframes the narrative around athlete longevity and career reinvention in ways that go well beyond a charming debut headline.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Roberto Bautista Agut do on his football debut?
Roberto Bautista Agut scored twice for Spanish seventh-tier club CD Els Ibarsos in a 4-2 victory, marking a successful start to his post-tennis sporting career. The 38-year-old had retired from professional tennis just over a month earlier.
Which football club has Roberto Bautista Agut signed for?
Bautista Agut has signed for CD Els Ibarsos, a seventh-tier Spanish club based approximately 60 miles north of Valencia. The club signed him hoping he would be available for the entire season.
Why did Roberto Bautista Agut retire from tennis?
Bautista Agut cited physical and mental fatigue, saying his body and mind told him it was time to stop. He noted he could no longer cope with four or five matches a week and felt he was no longer in the same physical shape as before.
What were Roberto Bautista Agut's biggest achievements in tennis?
Bautista Agut won 12 singles titles, reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2019, achieved a career-high ATP ranking of No. 9, and won the Davis Cup with Spain in 2019. He also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2019.
Did Bautista Agut have a football background before this debut?
Yes, Bautista Agut played youth football for Villarreal before choosing tennis as his professional career. His debut for CD Els Ibarsos marks a return to a sport he left behind in his youth.
