Euphoria was the best way to describe Rafael Nadal’s emotions following his historic win with Marc Lopez in the men’s doubles at the Rio Olympic Games.
The Spanish duo was on the verge of losing the gold medal after being broken by Romania’s Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau towards the closing stages of the match. Facing adversity, Nadal and Lopez rallied back by winning three consecutive games to secure the 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, victory.
Saturday’s triumph in the doubles gives Nadal his second gold medal after the 2008 Beijing Games, where he clinched the singles title. The Spaniard is only the fourth man in history to win a gold medal in both the singles and doubles.
Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez win doubles gold for Spain pic.twitter.com/5C7KHHyrGJ
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) 13 August 2016
Nadal’s and Lopez’s win come after uncertainty concerning Nadal’s fitness levels. The nine-time French Open champion had been sidelined from the tour for almost two months due to a left wrist injury. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old exceeded expectations to strike gold alongside one of his best friends on the tour.
Following their golden win at the Olympic Tennis Centre, both men spoke of their delight about achieving Spanish Olympic history.
The Spanish duo are the first from their country to win an Olympic doubles title. Lopez’s sensational Olympic run is now over, however, Nadal still has the chance of grabbing a golden double. On Saturday he will face Juan Martin del Potro in the singles semifinals.
In the bronze medal play-off, Jack Sock and Steve Johnson required only 64 minutes to defeat Canada’s Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 6-4. Johnson, who was edged out in three sets by Andy Murray in the singles, reveled after the win that he was in tears following his singles disappointment.
“I’ve had quite the range of emotions,” said Johnson. “I was in tears after the singles and my teammates picked me up. I don’t care how disappointed I am with my result in singles today, because I would have liked to have won, but (Sock) did a great job of getting us fired up.”
It is the third consecutive Olympic Games where America has won a medal in the men’s doubles competition.
