Rafael Nadal (Doubles) Champion!
Rafael Nadal may not have defended his singles title at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open by losing in a third set tie-breaker in the semis to thirty-one year old Croatian, Ivan Ljubicic. Instead, Rafa claimed the doubles title with partner and good friend, Marc Lopez. In the
final, Nadal and Lopez, wildcards, defeated Number One seeds, Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic, 7-6(8), 6-3. It was Nadal's and Lopez’s second victory over Nestor and Zimonjic, having also defeated them in 2009.
Rafa showed his champion’s heart and spirit by shaking off his disappointing semifinal singles loss earlier in the day on Saturday and then coming back to win the doubles title, which was his sixth career doubles title. Nadal has won titles with four different partners and has also reached three other doubles finals. Nadal primarily plays doubles when he hasn’t played singles for a while and needs extra match practice. Nonetheless, a satisfying win is a win and this doubles title will hopefully lift Nadal across the finish line when he reaches his next singles final. One could restart the debate about top singles players defeating “doubles specialists”, but the real story is that Nadal is a “champion” in singles and in doubles. Rafa has played twelve singles tournaments without a victory and it feels about time for him to win one again… especially as the Tour heads onto the red clay next month for the upcoming French Open.
Rafa showed his champion’s heart and spirit by shaking off his disappointing semifinal singles loss earlier in the day on Saturday and then coming back to win the doubles title, which was his sixth career doubles title. Nadal has won titles with four different partners and has also reached three other doubles finals. Nadal primarily plays doubles when he hasn’t played singles for a while and needs extra match practice. Nonetheless, a satisfying win is a win and this doubles title will hopefully lift Nadal across the finish line when he reaches his next singles final. One could restart the debate about top singles players defeating “doubles specialists”, but the real story is that Nadal is a “champion” in singles and in doubles. Rafa has played twelve singles tournaments without a victory and it feels about time for him to win one again… especially as the Tour heads onto the red clay next month for the upcoming French Open.
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