Six years ago Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos said ‘I do’ and their doubles career was born. The union could not have got off to a better start, winning a title on their first outing together. Since then, the Spanish-Argentine duo have not spent a moment apart, besides the odd tournament when one of them was injured.

On Saturday in the Caja Magica, they claimed their eighth Masters 1000 title together. An astonishing haul. On their way to glory in the Spanish capital, they left the world’s three best teams in their wake. In addition, Marcel is now the active player with the most Masters 1000 titles alongside Mektic.

In an era when immediacy rules all, they have been together for longer than any of the best teams in the world. Such long partnerships are unusual because it is not at all easy, as they themselves acknowledged: “Over these six years we’ve had many great moments together, but the reality is that there are more bad moments than positives and that’s when we’re an even better partnership”, said the Spaniard.

This very year Marcel suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for three months: “In doubles when you get injured it’s also frustrating for your partner. Luckily I’ve barely had any serious ones, but I’m really grateful for the support he gave me from day one when I got the injury in December. It’s a joy to have Horacio by my side”, explained the Catalonian.

Horacio, 40, and Marcel, 39, are well aware that they are reaching the final stages of their careers. But they also know they would like to spend them together. The Argentinian is in no doubt: “You never know, but at this point I can’t see myself playing with anyone other than Marcel. We’re very similar, we have similar routines and we get on really well. I think he will be my last partner”. Granollers is just as confident: “It would be difficult for me to find someone like Horacio, he understands me perfectly and we have a great rapport both on and off the court”.

In order to keep the flame alive, there is only one word, commitment: “It’s all about attitude. The motivation every day is what allows us to have moments like these. This year we played Challenger events because we had to and we didn’t mind. Everything is about attitude. There’s no time to be bitter and we know that well”. They are ambitious about their future together, but they also know that the competition is fierce and all they can do is work hard. “The goal is to win, but otherwise to keep our heads held high, train hard and enjoy the journey”.

Both players are incredibly grateful for their week in the Spanish capital: “The support we’ve been given this week in Madrid has been amazing”, said the Argentine. “It’s incredible to win here again”, added Marcel. Two titles at the Mutua Madrid Open and the world number one spot last year. The Caja Magica is starting to become the favourite stomping ground of the Granollers-Zeballos marriage.

However, if they had to sum up their feelings with one word, it would be ‘relief’: “When we had won, maybe we didn’t celebrate it much, but we just felt huge relief. It’s been a tough year with the injury. It’s incredible how quickly things can change. Ten days ago we had a bad match in Munich and we’ve managed to bounce back and win here.  That’s what we work so hard for”, said the Mar del Plata native. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health; these appear to be the rules Granollers and Zeballos abide by every day of their tennis lives.