Spanish Duo of Granollers and Lopez Win Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
November 13, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
The Spanish team of Marcel Granollers & Marc Lopez have become only the second Spanish team to win the season-ending championships after their 7-5, 3-6, 10-3 win over the fifth-seeded team of Mahesh Bhupathi & Rohan Bopanna of India at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena in London. The only other Spanish duo to win the title were Juan Gisbert & Manuel Orantes in 1975 in Stockholm when the title was decided by a round-robin group.
“We finished here winning the title, so it’s incredible for us,” said Granollers. “We try to play as best as we can always. I think we have very good relationship. So, I think, that’s one of the key of our success. I’d like to congratulate Mahesh and Rohan for their year. They played a great tournament. Good luck next season. Marc is one of my best friends. To win here with him is very special. Thanks to the ATP for a great tournament and to Barclays for supporting our sport."
Granollers & Lopez will compete for Spain next week in the 2012 Davis Cup finals against the Czech Republic. In their march to the year-end title, the duo knocked off top-seeded and world number one-ranked Bob & MIke Bryan last Monday.
"They’re not just serve and volley players, traditional doubles players. They mix a lot. They stay back. They serve and stay back," said Bopanna. "They cross a lot. They hit different kinds of shots, which it’s very tough. You’re not sure whether they’re going to come in or cross.”
