Yes, I know I never update here anymore – sorry. Work and that other guy take up so much of my time. But, I had to post because…Marc!’s on twitter now. Go give him a virtual hug.
August 23, 2011 at 6:33 pm by miri | Marc! | No Comments
Photo by Beth Wilson
Thanks to the other Maria for sending in a link to an interview with Marc! and to Bee for doing a translation.
Marc López: “Being among the best is an award I’m enjoying it” – By David Menay as translated by Bee (who asks that you do not re-post her translation without permission)
He has accumulated five titles, three together with Rafa Nadal and two more with David Marrero as his partner. This week he plays doubles in Auckland with Nicolás Almagro, the partner with whom he will also participate in the Australian Open. Last year he only played in 6 singles tournaments.
Marc López (Barcelona, 1982) has just landed in Auckland, where this week he will play doubles together with Nicolás Almagro. The Catalan has just come from winning his fifth career title in doubles together with Rafael Nadal and he hopes that the streak will continue during the year that has just started. Even with jetlag after a marathon journey to New Zealand territory, Marc amiably joined us in “Tie Break” the tennis programme of Radio MARCA…
Congratulations for your doubles win in Doha with Rafael Nadal.
I am very happy with this title and also for having got it together with Rafa who is a good friend.
The final was played the same day that Nadal fell to Davydenko in the semifinals after giving clear signs of fatigue. Were you worried about the final at any point?
Rafa had problems with the flu and a temperature during the whole week, but on the day of the final I was much more worried than he was. When he finished his match with Davydenko I asked him how he was, and told him that if he was really ill not to worry, that I would understand if he didn’t play the doubles. But it was he who told me to not worry and that he was going to play. He made the effort for me and because he really wanted to win the tournament. He now has ten days to recuperate before playing the Australian Open.
In 2009, after winning the title in Doha, Nadal put you on the spot making you speak in English in front of all the people
It was the first title of my career and he played a trick on me making me speak in English because he knows that I am not very good at it! This year my English hasn’t improved much, but I was quicker than him and told the presenter that I would speak in Spanish. It wasn’t a problem.
It looks as though you get on very well on court
We get on very well off court and that reflects in our game. I trained with him in Mallorca during the pre-season and we understand each other very well. The proof of that is when we have played doubles together we have had good results. We have three titles together and one of them was a Masters 1000 in Indian Wells that is on hard court and against the best teams on the circuit.
It is more usual to see you in doubles draws than in singles…
Already last year I played more doubles matches than singles. After having won in Indian Wells the difference in my ranking was considerable and I had to decide between focusing my career in doubles or singles. This year I will try to play some qualifying rounds to improve my individual ranking, but I am focused on doubles, since that is where I am having better results and where I feel most comfortable now.
With your victory in Doha, you have got to No 14 in the doubles ranking. That is just a step to the top ten.
For me being No 14 in the world is already amazing. I am not setting goals in that sense. The most important thing is to keep taking steps forward and what better way than starting the year with a title.
Nadal, Marrero, Riba, Robredo, … you don’t have a fixed partner on the doubles circuit.
It is difficult to find a fixed partner. Even last year I decided to change partners and the result was good. With Rafa I play the weeks that he can, with David I have also won titles… As the level of Spanish tennis is so high and I am comfortable with all the players and we get on well, I don’t have problems changing (partners). The important thing for me is to have a good time and try to win as many matches as I can.
What objectives have you set for 2011?
For me being No 14 in the world is a prize that I am enjoying and I want to confirm myself amongst the best in doubles. Wining the first week of the year has given me much confidence to face the rest of the season.
And you have been spending time with Nadal during recent days, how does he see the Australian Open?
I always see him very well. This week he has had fever symptoms but he has sufficient time to rest and get to Melbourne fit. He is very mentally prepared and knows what he has to do. He has won the last three Slams and faces the Australian Open with a lot of confidence.
In 2009 you won the doubles in Doha and Rafa won the Australian Open two weeks later. Does he believe that history could repeat itself?
So that you see that Rafa thinks up to the last detail, before playing the final in Doha he said to me “Marc, we have to win today, because two years ago we won the doubles here, and later I won the Australian Open”. He said it as a joke, but… I don’t think that it has anything to do with it, but hopefully having won in Doha will help him to reconquer the Australian Open. I believe in it.
To finish, let’s come back to you. Can you see yourself winning a Grand Slam or even playing in a Masters Cup?
The Masters Cup I see somewhat difficult because it takes playing regularly with one partner, and that is something that up to now I don’t do. And winning a Grand Slam has always been a dream. I have reached the quarter finals of Roland Garros twice, and to be able to win a “Slam” would be an enormous illusion. But I think that I am still a way off that.
Yay! Match footage:
Posted by ksyuzi.
January 8, 2011 at 5:23 pm by miri | Marc! | No Comments
Yeah, yeah, I haven’t updated this in ages. (Anyone want to help out?) Sorry about that. But today cannot pass without a post. Why? Because Marc! and some other guy won the Doha doubles title today! And? That other guy? Was barely moving…which means Marc! did all the work…cause he’s smiley and awesome and, well, Marc!
Some pictures and videos:
Photos by AP Photo/Hassan Ammar and JULIEN CROSNIER/QTF
Posted by s999a.
Posted by ksyuzi.
January 8, 2011 at 12:17 am by miri | Marc! | No Comments
Once again, the Open Court blog reminded me it’s Marc!’s birthday. Here’s Stephanie Myles’s write up:
Lopez was a fairly obscure journeyman who teamed up with buddy Rafael Nadal early in 2009 to pull off a major doubles win at Doha, shocking Canadian Daniel Nestor and partner Nenad Zimonjic in the final. Rafa even lend him some duds, or got some for him.
It wasn’t all Nadal; though. Lopez teamed up with Tommy Robredo to make the doubles quarters at the French Open, and the semis two weeks ago in Bastad, Sweden.
So it turns out, all Lopez really needed was a shot. He’s a regular fixture on the doubles circuit now, and seems to play well with everyone he teams up with (usually a fellow Spaniard).
He had started off really well in his singles career, reaching the final in Stuttgart in 2001 (when he was just 19) and beating former top Spaniard Sergi Bruguera along the way. After that, it was pretty much Challenger city.
He’s No. 25 in the world in doubles now, down one spot from his career high just before the French Open this year. And he’s up to nearly a million in prize money.
He has three titles this year: Estoril and the ATP 500 in Hamburg with David Marrero, and the big Indian Wells event with Nadal.
July 31, 2010 at 5:14 pm by miri | Marc! | No Comments
Photo by Joern Pollex/ Staff /Getty Images
Marc! and David Marrero won the Hamburg Open doubles title this morning! They defeated Chardy/Mathieu 6-3, 2-6, 10-8. Here’s a sum-up on the ATP site.
“It was an amazing week,” reflected Lopez. “It’s our second title this year. I am very happy because it is a very important victory. It’s for both of us the first title in an ATP [World Tour] 500 tournament. And next year I’ll try to win again.”
I got up early this morning to see if, by chance, there were any streams, but it was doubles, so of course not. I curled up with my laptop to watch live scores, but…fell asleep and ended up running late for my afternoon plans. (FAIL!) So, k, sia, Ramara, Atch2 and tiemyshoe, I promise I wasn’t ignoring Marc! and his doubles goodness.
July 25, 2010 at 4:16 pm by miri | Marc! | 3 Comments
Marc! practicing in the rain at Queens with some insane other guy.
June 8, 2010 at 7:12 pm by miri | Marc! | No Comments
Marc! will be playing doubles with some other guy at Queens (aka the Aegon Championships). You can find the draw here. BTW, guess who’s the higher rated doubles player in the pair.
Well, Marc! didn’t get to play on the big court due to rain delays and…he and Riba lost to Moodie/Norman (1-6, 4-6). But really, quarterfinals in a slam is damn good for a completely unestablished team. I think Marc! could be a star on the doubles circuit if he’d pick a solid partner and stay with him.
June 5, 2010 at 3:13 pm by miri | Marc! | 2 Comments
Everyone needs to think positive thoughts for Marc! tomorrow – he’ll be making his debut on Court Philippe Chatrier tomorrow. Yes, that’s right, smiley Marc! will be playing the doubles quarterfinals of Roland Garros. He and Riba have already knocked out two of the top seeds, so I fancy their chances against Moodie and Norman.
Heck, Marc! even got praise from that other guy today in his big newspaper blog:
He should believe more in his game since he is really good.
We knew that, other guy. We knew that. It only adds to his adorableness.
May 31, 2010 at 8:48 pm by miri | Marc! | No Comments