Spain's Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez have won the gold medal in the Men's doubles following a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Romania's Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau.  

Lopez/Nadal dominate opening set

In the first game of the set, the Romanian pair went down two break points before saving both and going on to hold serve to get underway. In the following game, Nadal and Lopez had no such problems in getting on the board for 1-1. In the fifth game, Marc Lopez attempted to lob Tecau who put the overhead smash into the net and the Spaniards had three break point opportunities. In the next point, it was Lopez who won the point and broke the Romanian's to go 3-2 up.

Spain's Rafael Nadal (L) and Spain's Marc Lopez return the ball to Romania's Florin Mergea and Romania's Horia Tecau (Photo: Martin Bernetti/Getty Images)
Spain's Rafael Nadal (L) and Spain's Marc Lopez return the ball to Romania's Florin Mergea and Romania's Horia Tecau (Photo: Martin Bernetti/Getty Images)

They consolidated the break for 4-2. While Tecau was looking strong, Mergea on the other hand, was struggling with the Spaniard's pressure. With the momentum in favour of Nadal and Lopez, they took advantage. At 30-all, Nadal placed a forehand down the line and another break point came their way. The sixth seeds broke for 5-2. The Spaniards sealed the set 6-2 on the Lopez serve. 

Mergea/Tecau fight back to level match

The second set saw a change in momentum. The first three service games were held. However, the fifth seeds decided to up their game which rewarded them with three break point chances. At the first time of asking, they broke the Spaniards and this is when the momentum began to shift in favour of the Romanian pair. Mergea and Tecau consolidated the break for a comfortable 1-4 lead in the set. At 2-4, the Romanian pair held serve to love and then had two set points saved in the net game.

The first set point came at 40-30 for the fifth seeds, but Nadal hit a backhand down the line and the point was quickly erased. However, the Romanians fought back, won the next point and gained a second set point.

Again the pair of Lopez and Nadal saved set point and then went on to hold for 3-5. With Tecau serving to send this match into a decider, the fifth seed had other ideas. Rafael Nadal hit a timely forehand cross court with then set up triple break points. Horia Tecau fought back and with good serving, he and Mergea saved all three and closed out the set at 3-6. 

Nadal/Lopez claim gold

Both teams started the third and most important set by holding serve as the set went to 1-1. The fifth game of the set proved to be the longest of the match. At 15-30, Lopez and Mergea exchanged a number of shots before Lopez put away the final shot and won the exchange to set up to break point chances for the Spaniards.

However, Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau saved both points to take the game to deuce. The Romanian pair were constantly put under pressure in this game but managed to save a further three break points as they held with a huge serve from Mergea for 2-2. In the following game, the Spaniards were forced to save a break point from the fifth seeds.

Spain's Rafael Nadal and Spain's Marc Lopez celebrate after winning the men's doubles final tennis match (Photo: Martin Bernetti/Getty Images)
Spain's Rafael Nadal and Spain's Marc Lopez celebrate after winning the men's doubles final tennis match (Photo: Martin Bernetti/Getty Images)

As the set developed, the level of play just continued to be of the highest quality. With the score at 3-3 love 30, Marc Lopez served the first double fault of the match and Mergea and Tecau had three chances to go ahead. At the first time of asking, the Romanians went ahead. However, the following game saw the Spaniards break straight back to level the set at 4-4.

They served it out in the following game and put the pressure on the Romanians. Serving at 15-30, Nadal hit a return winner from Tecau's serve and reached match point. The Romanians saved both match points to take the game to deuce. On their third break point, Nadal and Lopez won the point and clinched the gold medal. 

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