Feliciano and Marc López won their first Grand Slam doubles title after beating the formidable Bryan Brothers in the French Open final.
The number-15 seeds, who share a surname yet are not related, only started playing together permanently at the start of the year and saved six match points in their quarter-final victory over home favourites Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin on their passage to the final.
They went on to win a gripping final against the illustrious Bryan’s, who were bidding for a 17th major, with a 6-4 6-7(7) 6-3 victory.
Lopez's complete successful Saturday for Spain
It completed a successful day for the Spanish on the Philippe Chatrier court, following Garbine Muguruza's maiden Grand Slam title in the Women’s singles earlier in the day.
Despite his vast experience on the doubles tour, this was also a first major for 33-year-old Marc Lopez who reached the final at Roland Garros two years ago.
His compatriot Feliciano has made more of a career in singles, but his big serve and accomplished skills at the net also function well in the four-player game.
Seeded 15th at the Championships, the Lopez’s also defeated top seeds Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert - as wells as the accomplished Brazilian-Croatian team of Marcelo Melo and Ivan Dodig in a tight semi-final.
Spaniard's Start Strong
In both of those matches the Spaniard’s crucially won the first set and they made a quick start here by breaking serve in the opening game.
It came on the fifth break point on Bob Bryan’s serve, which was eventually conceded by the American pair when Marc Lopez drilled a forehand at Mike Bryan who was left defenceless at the net.
Both Spaniard’s held their service games for the remainder of the set, which they sealed when Marc Lopez executed an acute backhand volley into the gully of the tram line.
Bryan's Force A Decider
Feliciano’s presence and power combined with Marc’s agility and prowess have made the Lopez’s a daunting proposition for opponents on the Parisian clay, yet you could always rely on the Bryan’s to give them a contest.
The Twins from Florida are now 38-years-old and last year they failed to win one of the four majors for the first time since 2004.
Even so, after some open talks about their joint career, the pair appear to have been given a new lease of life and after saving a match point in the second set tie break they went on to force a decider.
Feliciano Serves It Out
At 2-2 both teams traded breaks of serve, before the Spaniards made the decisive move which allowed Feliciano - in his beaming yellow outfit - to serve for the match.
He did so in style and concluded the match with an ace, prompting himself and his partner to fall deep into the think red clay. A first Grand Slam title for both was claimed, and you could see what it meant to them.