Lopez and Nadal win gold for Spain at Rio 2016
The Spanish flag was the first to be raised over Centre Court at the Barra Olympic Tennis Centre as Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal won gold in the men's doubles at Rio 2016.
Lopez and Nadal defeated Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2 3-6 6-4 in a high-quality final lasting two hours, 26 minutes. In a tense final set, the Romanians broke Lopez for a 4-3 lead but the Spanish pair recovered the break immediately, and two games later Tecau's serve crumbled to hand victory to Lopez and Nadal on their third match point.
Nadal and Lopez immediately fell face down separately on the court, sobbing with relief and joy, before joining forces for a hug between best friends that has become one of the most memorable images of the past few days.
It was an emotional moment for both men. Nadal was uncertain to be fit for the Olympics until just before the Games began, having been sidelined since late May with a left wrist injury.
"It was amazing experience, especially doing that with one of my best friends, with Marc, is something unforgettable for me, for both of us, I think," said the 14-time Grand Slam champion.
"[To] win a gold medal today after two months and a half with no practice, with no preparation at all, just working in the gym, is something that is a dream. The moment was unbelievable, and we had fun. We fight hard. The only thing that we can say is that we are very, very happy."
For 34-year-old Lopez, 2016 has turned into the best year of his career, his triumph in Rio following on from winning his first Grand Slam doubles title with Feliciano Lopez at Roland Garros.
"It's a very unique and special occasion," said the Barcelona native. "Sharing these feelings with Rafa, being together at the Olympic Village, it's really a dream come true. All the things we've done together, I am the happiest man on Earth."
Nadal becomes the second man - and fourth player overall - to win gold medals in both singles and doubles since tennis returned to the Olympics as a full medal sport at Seoul, joining Nicolas Massu, Venus Williams and Serena Williams in achieving this.
"It's a very special event, a unique event for me and I think for everybody. Olympic Games is only once every four years," said Nadal. "The chances are just a few ones. To have two gold medals is something unbelievable."
This is Spain's first gold in men's doubles, improving on the silver medal captured by Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez at Seoul 1988, and across all sports it is Spain's third gold medal of Rio 2016, the nation having also topped the podium in swimming and canoeing.
Mergea and Tecau had been hoping to win Romania's second gold medal of this Olympics, but instead have secured a silver for their country, and an historic first Olympic tennis medal of any colour.
"For me this is the greatest achievement of my career," said Mergea, who was making his Olympic debut in Rio. "We've been dreaming about this moment, to be here and play in the Olympic Games together since we were kids. So to reach the final is something incredible. It was an epic battle. It was one of the longest matches we've played here."
"Of course, it was a tough match, and a tough loss but it is a silver medal," said Tecau. "It was so close to fulfilling our dream that we had since we were little kids. But it was an amazing match, amazing months and amazing year to get here. I really enjoyed the whole process. It's not a loss, it's a win getting this silver medal."
The American pairing of Steve Johnson and Jack Sock won the men's doubles bronze medal in their debut Olympic appearance, scoring a straightforward 6-2 6-4 win over Canadians Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil in a bronze medal match lasting just over an hour.
Sock and Johnson ensured that USA has been represented on the doubles podium in all but one of the Olympic Tennis Events of the modern era, the exception being Athens 2004.
"It's awesome. I've said it all week and I'll say it again, it's been an awesome time playing with Stevie, playing with a really good buddy. Being on a team representing your country has been an extraordinary experience," said 23-year-old Sock. "We are going to have these [medals] forever and something we can share together and it's awesome that we can bring them back to the US for the country."