Rafael Nadal is poised to rekindle his successful Olympic gold-winning partnership with coach Marc Lopez as he gears up for his comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International. After nearly a year away from the tour, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has landed in Australia and engaged in his initial training session in Brisbane, gearing up for the tournament scheduled to commence on December 31.
The news of Nadal and Marc Lopez pairing up for doubles at the Brisbane International has stirred considerable interest, given their prior triumph as a team. The duo secured the gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, marking a memorable chapter in their partnership.
With the imminent return of the 37-year-old tennis icon to competitive play, anticipation within the tennis community has reached a pinnacle. The prospect of Nadal teaming up with his coach adds an extra layer of excitement for fans at the ATP 250 event.
Marc Lopez retired from professional tennis after a doubles loss at the 2022 Madrid Masters alongside Carlos Alcaraz. However, it appears he will make a special return to the court for this unique reunion with the former World No. 1.
Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez won Gold at 2016 Rio Olympics:
Representing Spain at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez, seeded sixth in the men’s doubles competition, began their campaign with a commanding 6-4, 6-4 victory over Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Roger from the Netherlands. Following this strong start, they secured a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win against Juan Martin del Potro and Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina. The Spanish duo continued their impressive run by defeating Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya from Austria 6-3, 6-1, earning a spot in the prestigious event’s semifinals.
Advancing to the final, Nadal and Lopez emerged victorious against Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil from Canada, winning 7-6(1), 7-6(4). In the ultimate showdown, they clinched the gold medal by triumphing over Romania’s Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau, etching their names in Olympic history with a memorable achievement.
