The Spanish duo beat the American duo 7-5, 6-4 in 78 minutes on Saturday in Beijing. They will face American/Australian duo Jack Sock and Bernard Tomic for the title.
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 08: Rafael Nadal of Spian and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain celebrate after winning against Mike Bryan of the United States and Bob Bryan of the United States during the Men’s Double Semi Final match on day eight of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 08: Rafael Nadal of Spian and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain shake hands with Mike Bryan of the United States and Bob Bryan of the United States during the Men’s Double Semi Final match on day eight of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 08: Rafael Nadal of Spian and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain leave the court after winning against Mike Bryan of the United States and Bob Bryan of the United States during the Men’s Double Semi Final match on day eight of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 08: Rafael Nadal of Spian and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain celebrate after winning against Mike Bryan of the United States and Bob Bryan of the United States during the Men’s Double Semi Final match on day eight of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images)
Match stats:
Rafa is chasing his second doubles triumph of the season after winning the gold medal with Marc Lopez at the Rio Olympics.
Vamos Rafa & Pablo!
According to W Magazine, a Rafa postcard artwork will be displayed in “Freeze for Frieze,” during Frieze London, its first post-Brexit fair. The proceeds will go to pay for art scholarships for two students. Among others submitting artwork are Misty Copeland, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Megan Fox. Not until the artwork is sold will the artist be revealed.
This took a lot of searching! Unfortunately, the exhibition is finished. I am gutted – I think Rafa’s postcard was pretty obvious – I would have nabbed it!!
https://freezeforfrieze-dunebuggysrl.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/FREEZE_FOR_FRIEZE_131-1.jpg
The artists are supposed to be anonymous. However, this pic sure looks like Rafa but it could have been drawn by any one of the many artists who have drawn Rafa. Maybe RNF can find out which postcard(s) Rafa submitted.
I’ve come to the same conclusion. This card may have been a foil. I was searching the cards last night. I have another suspect!
LOL…U R cracking me up re “suspect.”
I was trying to find out if Rafa’s submission(s) was revealed. Good luck in your hunt. No male has tired me out as much as Rafa has. Love every minute!
Congrats rafa and pablo
But in my view rafa should not play too many doubles tournament
this tournament rafa was playing superbly in singles and wish he continue with same here after
grigor defended well, rafa just needes to mix a his forehands with some drop shot and slices
anywAys
vamoa rafa
Great news , well done Rafa and Pablo you deserve it. What a great doubles player Rafa is turning out to be ,is there no end to his talent . Enjoy your victory and come back stronger in your next tournaments.
ci…..ci…..ci…..ci…..& ci…… IT IS A WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Great for you sweetheart….SO HAPPY FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SOLID VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 You are so good at TE BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 Coming back from behind 4:1 to winning 10:8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Enjoy your victory and all the best celebrating with P & your TEAM & FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Looking forward to watching the match & TROPHY CEREMONY on YOU TUBE…… : ) GOOD WORK DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE SO GREAT AT DOUBLES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 Have beautiful week and God bless you sweetheart!!!!!! : ) Well earned TROPHY & SUCH SWEET VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) TOP TOP TOP in EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 Good night & sweet dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Enjoy everything & keep smiling dear Rafa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ): ) : ) : ) Lots of love & happiness !!!!!!! : )
Wow! Just seen the final score and that was soooooo close!!!!! Well done Rafa and Pablo. You did it! Fantastic victory. So happy for both of you. I hope this boosts your confidence for Shanghai, Rafa. 👍👍👍
The geezers took the second set.
YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Great play dear sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Rafa & P just took the 2nd set 6:2….. 1st set went to the others 6:7 …..wow….this is great…. solid fighting dear Rafa VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) a break & a 4:2 lead 2nd set…..YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 1st set tb was very close till last point…. watching the LIVE SCORE makes for an exciting game….
YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leading now 5:2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Team Rafa won!!!!
,
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You & P are both great at TB…….: ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) and …..you are leading 2:1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) We are watching the LIVE SCORE and it is 3:3 1st set…… VAMOS & GO……..GO…….GO…….. : ) you have 40 on their serve & ready to break !!!!!!!!!!! : ) YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) AND…..you just broke leading 4:3 and serving next…..beautiful…. VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Wakey, wakey kids! Fifteen minutes for the show to begin.
RAFA PLAYS DOUBLES AT BEIJING
A win is a win I guess.. but someone who had a shot at being undisputed GOAT… reduced to fighting for a 500 doubles? What Rafa did for his country in Rio was heroic… i only wish his team and him make better decisions for himself. Think he still this he has a 2-3 years left. But without changes it is going to sadly be more of the same. Cheering for meaningless doubles titles. B4 you all pounce that nothing is meaningless… It is Meaningless for someone who had 14 GS in 2014 at the age of 28.. just 3 away from the pinnacle. All that these doubles are going to do is distract him from singles. Its not like he serves and volleys. He hardly gets to the net. I would argue doubles is hindering his serve. Anyone who plays tennis knows, u place first serve in doubles but got for broke in singles. Rafe is using his doubles first server in singles and getting killed. Utter madness. Maybe I am missing something, but I fail to understand the necessity to play a 500 level doubles after losing the QF. Match practice BS is just that… BS.
he’s completly lost his mind.
to make it clear I meant Rafa has completly lost his mind.
@ serve out: How about this for a reason: Pablo: ‘I asked him 4 times’. That’s our Rafa – you’ve got to love him:))
OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Congratulations again on your BEAUTIFUL 2 sets semi final win !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) You are so unbelievably AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 😉 🙂 🙂 🙂 Enjoy sweetheart your day & have lots & lots & lots of fun playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 : ) : ) It will be a FANTASTIC match for you & P and our family will be watching your Finals DOUBLES LIVE !!!!!!!!!!!! : ) God bless you sweetheart & lots of happiness & love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA & enjoy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Rafa has a forehand injury he is still dealing with. His confidence is back and he is enjoying tennis again. Win or lose he is. My favorite tennis player in the world. I have watched him since he was 14. I have seen clips of him playing at four. Let’s just let him enjoy himself for a while. The grueling schedule they keep is unreal. Let’s just enjoy him. ❤️
I love to watch the doubles matches. They are very fast and it is interesting how the players on each side interact with each other .
I read somewhere a few months ago where the Bryan brothers said Rafa is an excellent doubles player. With all their experience and success in this field they would be the ones to know.
I think if he ever got tired of the stress of singles play and decided to concentrate on doubles he would soon be ranked among the top doubles players.
Nevertheless I hope he is able to continue on for some time yet as one of the most exciting and talented singles players to ever grace a tennis court.
Agree with you Beverley – this most exciting and fun thing I watched his year was Marc and Rafa at the Olympics – many a very late night thoroughly enjoyed!
I would think that what ever Rafa plays from here on is definitely icing on the cake.
HE is adorable Rafa with all his idiosyncrasies…………which we all have in one way or another.
I have watched all the players and they all have certain rituals and they don’t get talked about,or made in to a melodrama.Relax……………and let the guy be.
Whatever we see is all a bonus,until Rafa decides he has had enough.So enjoy him win or lose while he is here to watch.Let him decide his ongoing future,for he doesn’t need to play for the money or cudos. He has thought the future well ahead with his tennis Academy in Mallorca, and he will always be a welcome guest all over the world wherever he is,
Love you Rafa, just be you and all the best in Shanghai,
love and prayers,
ALaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
This are wonderful, soothing and reasonable words, Eliane. Even though I fully regard myself to be on the melodramic part that you mention I will at least try remember your words when I’m exhausing myself next time with all those (sometimes confusing) thoughts about Rafa, his play and well-being. I have never suffered with someone I don’t know in this way. I think everybody who has a sligh interest in Tennis and has once seen him play has an opinion about him. He is such a special human being and tennisplayer, and this makes us all feel very emotional, in different ways.
You may have your own opinion without judging a different opinion as being melodramatic.
I have yet to see another tennis player exhibit such a multitude of “distracting” behaviors such as Rafa has. For me to watch him was painful indeed. I didn’t see anything cute in it. Something is definitely going on with Rafa and he is showing it. It’s like a cry for help!
I am so annoyed! Tennis TV seems to be showing the women’s doubles final, but not the men’s. Is that possible?
It seems you are right :(. I just checked their schedule now. This is very annoying. I’m wondering why I pay so much for my full-year-pass…
Let’s hope they will show men’s doubles final tomorrow. Will be very disappointed if they don’t do it.
I was asking them on Twitter but no answer, of course :(. after the ladies doubles, Goffin- Kyrgios (Tokio Final) is on their schedule. I thought they normally show more than one tournament- stream at one time *rolling my eyes*.
BTW @ RNF: Thanks a lot for providing this fan- site and that great possibility to share our thoughts about Rafa! The only thing which I think would be even more phenomenal to have would be a regular discussion- forum, (but maybe it’s only me who loses overview about all the anwers, sometimes, lol. ;)).
Thanks for everything!
Yesss👏👏👏👏👏vamos rafa&pablo👍👍👍👍❤❤
Sorry about you loss in the singles Rafa but well done in the doubles
Now go win this !!!
Rafa has done it all so if never win another singles title he has nothing to prove to anyone but it appears just to himself as he seems so desperate to win another singles and I really hope he can do this but have my doubts
I have been a Rafa fan since the start and will always remain one win or lose
Maybe he should concentrate on doubles now and he is putting himself through so much stress to try to win and I get so worried that he will lose all his confidence in the game he loves so much
I sincerely hope not as he is a joy to watch on court and I cannot see aNewgen player that has both his charisma and tennis ability to be as consistent as he has been over the past 10 years
Congratulations on the double win and all the best of luck at the finals to both of you 😊😍👍🍀
Hope this win will boost your confidence for Shanghai dear Rafa 😘
VAMOS Champ 🎾💪😃💖
Seems all Rafa needs to play well is one of his mates on court with him. Will they allow that in the singles?;)
Teresa, isn’t that a little harsh? I am surprised that no one mentioned his OCD behavior, I am wondering if he has any skin left on his nose or behind his ears. I don’t usually notice them but thought they were a little excessive in his match v Dmitrov.
I think you have read this in the wrong tone Margo – me be harsh to Rafa – Never!! It was meant light-heartedly as he is playing better when he has a compatriot on court who seem to channel his nerves. I just now replied to Beverley on the Dimitrov thread about the OCD (I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up again) but she touched upon it. I didn’t watch the match (I couldn’t bear it). My sister told me that the OCD was bad and that he is now towelling down with the same ritual as he uses when he serves. Maybe it’s becoming glaringly obvious that he has a problem but everyone, reporters, commentators etc seem afraid to mention it. We get the questions like ‘you were wiping the court with the towel’ as though this is the only way they can broach the subject. They seem as doubtful as we are. A fan recently drew my attention to Marc Lopez who seems to talk Rafa down when he is about to serve – this is the endearing thing I was really referring to.
I had no idea you were referring to something in particular. No insult or accusations intended. I know you are an avid Rafa fan and that is why I was surprised. Thought you were taking the loss hard. That simple.
Was not accusing you of being harsh…the statement, without any clarifying note, seemed to me to say Rafa won’t win unless he had a mate by his side. I was just asking. I know you are a fan.
I didn’t read any comments regarding his OCD behavior and couldn’t understand why I was the only one who thought it may have been excessive. Of late, my nightmare is that he may have a complete mental breakdown especially when I see this type of behavior from him. As I’ve stated in previous RNF’s posts, the behavior seems to be cumulative and is just getting worse. I hope not.
Teresa: exacely what I thought. he needs a new coach to change his mentality.
Good luck guys.
At least Rafa can leave Beijing with a doubles trophy – hopefully a title although a runner-up should still restore his confidence a little after his disappointing quarter final singles loss.
I do hope he can get through to the singles finals in Shanghai where Djokovic would probably be the one awaiting him.
It would be wonderful if he won in Shanghai.. I think a win would make all the difference to his confidence levels going into his final matches of the year.
Glad you two won, Rafa, had it been a loss against two almost 40-years-old guys I would have been pretty shaken up.
Wishing you two a strong win in the final.
The Bryans have been top doubles team for years, were seeded #1 here. What difference is their age?
Hi Margo, I know that you are a big Rafa fan, but I think the Bryans are 37. They were also seeded number one. I wish I could see the match. I was impressed that they won!
Hiya va4favre…the Bryan twins will be 38.5-years-old on the 29th (1.5 years short of 40). I feel a they can be described as “almost” 40. If you disagree, I surely won’t take it personally.
Rafa and Verdasco lost to them at this year’s Indian Wells, and it was Rafa’s seventh doubles’ loss to them. Yes, the twins were seeded number one but their ranking has dipped.
I consider Rafa a champion, one vs. one. I am not a doubles fan so maybe I am not being objective enough about this win.
As a champion, Rafa should not have to depend on anyone to win except himself. However, I know his desire to keep playing trumps everything, including injury. He has committed to playing doubles next year with Roger at the Laver Cup. Whatever he decides to do I hope it fulfills the insatiable cravings he has. I just want him well and not the picture of a mental meltdown in the making.
If he doesn’t make the Race, a tournament he has never won, I cannot fathom what will happen. He may be worried about not qualifying. He is almost obsessed with it as he has often referred to qualifying for this year and past years. I’m gonna stop here.
RAFA IS A SINGLES CHAMP
Two youngins tomorrow! That’s whats so great about doubles…there’s longevity! I want Rafa around forever; And if doubles will keep him on tour then sobeit! I can’t watch Rafa lose like he did to Dimitrov…it’s to painful for me! Guess I’m a coward when it comes to Rafa!
It’s on now Souix if you can watch.
The young’uns just took the first set from the geezers.