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The tennis community has certainly lost Rafael Nadal, many believe he is at the end of his tennis career. So, let’s fill the hole left in our hearts by the thrilling lineup of men’s doubles at the 2016 Indian Wells Open.
Nadal was partnered with Spaniard Fernando Verdasco and the duo undoubtedly made for some great fun at the Sunshine Doubles event alongside the likes of Mike Tyson, Hilary Swank and Kaley Cuoco.
They started their campaign in the round of 32 and faced American greats Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan. The stars put on a thrilling show for an hour and 30 minutes before the Bryan brothers finally emerged victorious.
But the Spaniards had their shining moment as their most offensive effort came in the second set.
The pair faced a bombardment from the Bryan twins, forcing Nadal and Verdasco to look for a magical moment – which they did exactly. Nadal chased down a concerned effort and hit a perfect backhand shot to keep the rally going. This gave Verdasco a chance to win the point with a terrific forehand shot.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. What was it?» said the bewildered commentator. «Standing in admiration, and rightly so. Check this handy work; never. Spanish boys will do whatever it takes to stay in. Leave it to me; ‘I’ll keep my first hand,’ said Verdasco.
A rally for the ages that showcased the super Spaniard’s unique talent.
Despite the duo’s best efforts, the Bryan brothers were able to emerge victorious with a 3-6, 7-5, 10-8 win over Nadal, the third seed’s seventh doubles victory.
The Americans showed their appreciation to their supporters who helped the Spaniards get more gear to send the packs.
«The American people really got behind us and kept us going because we weren’t even close to the best early on,» said Bob Bryan. «We stayed in it and got a little bit of momentum at the end of the second but it took us a while.»
Mike Bryan added: “A bunch of A-list celebrities there. It was great. We were watching the big screen watching Mike Tyson, Larry Ellison, Hilary Swank while we were sitting in the changing rooms. Our friend Kaley Cuoco was there. She is considered an A-lister. It was a great atmosphere right from the moment we walked out. It’s a special court.»
The brothers then lost 4-6, 6-1, 14-12 to No. 8 seed Nenad Zimonjic and Edouard Roger-Vasselin to continue their hunt for the title all the way to the quarterfinals.
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