Nadal settles a ‘debt’ with Marc López: ''I'll always be grateful'

“I will definitely say goodbye with you somewhere, we still have one last match to play.” These were the words of Rafael Nadal, played on the video screen in Manolo Santana Stadium on 4 May 2022, when Marc López said adios to the ATP Tour at his final tournament, the Mutua Madrid Open.

The doubles veteran was announcing his retirement, but Nadal left the door open to one more match by his side, having won five doubles titles together, including the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“You’ve said goodbye with Feli [López], and now with Carlos [Alcaraz], and I think ours is still to come, we’ll save it for the future,” concluded the 22-time Grand Slam champion in his congratulatory message for Marc López’s career.

RAFA. IS. BACK. 🤩@BrisbaneTennis | #BrisbaneTennis | @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/uUFmgUXjGQ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2024

The day finally arrived at the Brisbane International presented by Evie. It was 31 December 2023, more than a year and a half after the idea was made public in Madrid.

“As everyone knows, I’d already retired, but also, when I retired Rafa said to me: ‘You played in Barcelona with Feli, in Madrid with Alcaraz, and I’d like us to play together one last time’,” López, the former No. 3 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, told ATPTour.com.

“We left it a little up in the air. Unfortunately, because of the injury Rafa had, we were unable to play in 2023 and in the end this opportunity came up,” continued the highly decorated 41-year-old doubles player.

Despite the fact that he was aware of Nadal’s message – and of the fact that he would not give up until he could deliver on his word – Marc López was still surprised when the opportunity arose. “I wasn’t expecting it, he mentioned it to me when we were practising in Kuwait, that he’d like to play a doubles match before singles and he suggested we play together,” Lopez revealed.

“I’d had very little competitive action, but in the end we did what we could,” he added about his farewell alongside Nadal in Brisbane, in which they were unable to defeat Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson (6-4, 6-4). “The important thing was, speaking as his coach, that at least he stepped onto court to compete, even if it was doubles. He has had a taste before competing in singles and that’s really important.”

“On a personal level, playing with Rafa for the last time, although it was not a good match, is always exciting,” he said. “Forgetting the fact that I’m now on his team, he’s one of my best friends and he’s also helped me so much throughout my career. I’ll always be very grateful to him for everything he has given me in tennis and in my personal life.”