Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez took home the first gold medal in tennis at the Rio Olympics Friday. The Spanish duo topped Romanians Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the men's doubles gold medal match.
It was their first gold as a team and for Nadal his second following his 2008 gold in singles. And Rafa becomes the fourth player to win gold in singles and doubles after Nicolas Massu and the Williams sisters.
He also did it without playing a match for two months entering the event and also competing in singles earlier in the dya.
"It was amazing experience, especially doing that with one of my best friends, with Marc, is something unforgettable for me, for both of us, I think," said Nadal after the 2-hour, 26-minute battle.
The tight match came right down to the wire with the Romania breaking the 34-year-old Lopez to take a 4-3 lead in the final set. But Nadal and Lopez would not be denied winning the last five games for the gold.
Nadal now matches Roger Federer's 2008 Beijing gold in doubles (but of course Rafa also has singles gold!). And he can still win more this weekend in singles.
Despite the loss, the Romanians were pleased with the silver medal.
Americans Steve Johnson and Jack Sock won the bronze with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Canadian tandem Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil.
"It's awesome. I've said it all week and I'll say it again, it's been an awesome time playing with Stevie, playing with a really good buddy. Being on a team representing your country has been an extraordinary experience," Sock said.
I have my medal predictions up at http://tennisabides.com Marc Lopez' smile after taking gold was what the olympics are all about.
Well done Rafa and Marc. Winning Gold? With injured wrist? Wow just wow.
congrats to them – quite the comeback from rafa.