Rafael Nadal added an Olympic gold medal to his collection of tennis accolades by winning the men’s doubles with his close friend Marc Lopez.
The Spanish pair beat Mergea/Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
After the match, Rafa said:
It was an amazing experience, especially doing that with one of my best friends, with Marc, it’s something unforgettable for me, for both of us, I think.
Win a gold medal today after two months and a half with no practice, with no preparation at all, just working on the gym, is something that is a dream, no?
The moment was unbelievable, and we had fun. We fight hard. The only thing that we can say is that we are very, very happy. (via ITF)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrate match point during the Men’s Doubles Gold medal match against Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea of Romania on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)
Rafael Nadal, right, and Marc Lopez, of Spain, celebrate after defeating Canada in their men’s doubles match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Final – Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Match – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain and Marc Lopez (ESP) of Spain celebrate after winning their match against Florin Mergea (ROU) of Romania and Horia Tecau (ROU) of Romania. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Victory Ceremony – Men’s Doubles Victory Ceremony – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain and Marc Lopez (ESP) of Spain react after receiving their gold medals. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Victory Ceremony – Men’s Doubles Victory Ceremony – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain and Marc Lopez (ESP) of Spain react after receiving their gold medals. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Victory Ceremony – Men’s Doubles Victory Ceremony – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain and Marc Lopez (ESP) of Spain react after receiving their gold medals. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Victory Ceremony – Men’s Doubles Victory Ceremony – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain poses with his gold medal that he won with Marc Lopez (ESP) of Spain. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Victory Ceremony – Men’s Doubles Victory Ceremony – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain poses with his gold medal that he won with Marc Lopez (ESP) of Spain. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Gold medalists Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain stand on the podium after the Men’s Doubles competition on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)
Gold medalists Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain stand on the podium after the Men’s Doubles competition on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)
Gold medalists Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain stand on the podium after the Men’s Doubles competition on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)
Gold medalists Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain stand on the podium after the Men’s Doubles competition on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)
Marc:
Sharing these feelings with Rafa, being together at the Olympic Village, it’s really a dream come true. All the things we’ve done together… I am the happiest man on Earth.
The match began in a surreal manner, with a bat flying around the court. After an official covered the animal with a towel, play started.
With wild plays that saw them hit shots far off the court and high into the air, the Spanish duo took the first set by a decisive 6-2 margin. But roles reversed during the second set, which saw the Romanian team win 6-3. All four players hit crazy shots back-and-forth for long rallies during the third set, which the Spanish team clinched 6-4.
The win marks Rafa’s second Olympic gold medal, following a singles victory at the Beijing 2008 Games.
Congratulations Rafa & Marc!
Sources: NBC, ITF
felicidades Rafa estuvieron increibles tu eres un verdadero champion, Vamos Rafa
CONGRATS TO RAFA AND MARC. YOUR VICTORY IS WELL DESERVED. REST TO PLAY DELPO AND PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM HIS MAGNIFICENT FOREHAND.
VAMOS, CHAMP!
Félicitations grand champion
Surreal win, very very close match and full credit to rafa and marc for fighting back from a break down in set 3. The romanian team played brilliant tennis but the Spanish team deserved this win… just. No question, by winning doubles gold despite not being 100% rafa showed why he is one of the greatest ever.
Vamos Rafa
What can you say about this man’s unbroken spirit, after his troubles of the last 18 months? His character is plain to see, and I’m so impressed to see the time he takes to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans at the end of a match, when he must be longing to go off and shower and relax. Truly a genuine and caring person.
Thanks BBC for not bothering to show the medal ceremony. We sat up till 3 a.m. to watch this match, and were glad to do so, and see a terrific match, so why deprive us of the crowning moment? You have no respect for your audience, unlike Rafa.
Hi Michele, you can see the whole match again (with the ceremony) online on the BBC iplayer. Just look for ‘centre court, Friday’. I know it’s not as good as seeing it live. Luckily I watched on the laptop anyway so saw the whole thing.
Michele, I watched the whole match as well and was Furious at the end when Bravo ( a cable reality channel )
Thanked everyone for watching and said tune in tomorrow for more Olympic tennis. They barely showed Rafa and Marc celebrating their GOLD medal…what a disgrace not showing their medal ceremony, Then this morning I put on Bravo to watch the Rafa bronze match and Andy’s gold match and there was the Gold medal ceremony for the Russian woman’s doubles! That was disrespectful for Rafa And Marc not to mention the millions of fans waiting to see the most important part of them winning. This wouldn’t have happened if a Brazilian team had won. Nothing we can do about it but look on line and see their photos…. Such a shame it makes me so sad… Vamos Rafa go get the bronze! Let’s go Andy for that Gold!!
I was disappointed with Bravo too, but the circumstances were different. Rafa’s match ran late and Bravo had other program scheduled for Sat night. Today was different since they did not plan to show the bronze match, so they had time to cover the gold medal ceremonies. I immediately switched to NBCsports online and saw the entire ceremony. It was wonderful. I rarely saw Rafa so happy.
Congratulations Rafa and lopes.I proud of yours.I love Rafa again.
I’m overwhelmed, still thrilled and also tired from this emotional night. So incredible how this gold-boys fought, especially in the end of the third set. How many hours has Rafa been on the court before… ? That was Rafa- spirit unbroken and released. Deeply impressing. Have to re-watch the victory ceremony and all those pics over again because it is once again the best thing on earth to see him happy like this.
Rafa both you and Marc were amazing. It was a long and stressful match even for those watching it. Mentally exhausting.
Especially after watching the singles match against Bellucci before that.
I have decided that my 82 year old heart must be ok or I would probably have succumbed to a heart attack after today.!!
LOL:D