{"id":101249,"date":"2025-04-24T13:17:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T11:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/el-fracaso-que-encumbro-a-marc-lopez\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T18:14:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T16:14:28","slug":"el-fracaso-que-encumbro-a-marc-lopez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/el-fracaso-que-encumbro-a-marc-lopez\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018failure\u2019 that kick-started Marc L\u00f3pez\u2019s career"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marc L\u00f3pez is back at the Mutua Madrid Open,\u00a0<\/strong>but this time his circumstances have changed. For the first time in four years, the Spaniard is not in the Spanish capital as Rafa Nadal\u2019s coach. After the Mallorcan\u2019s retirement, he was quick to undertake a new project and now busies himself shaping the career of the young Jasmine Paolini. The Italian is currently ranked number six in the world having reached two Grand Slam finals last year. Madrid marks the second tournament for the new partnership.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the Catalonian sat down at the microphones of\u00a0Feli\u2019s Room<\/em>, the podcast of Feliciano L\u00f3pez, director of the tournament. They have known each other for a long time. There is only one year between them, and their relationship dates back three decades, to when they played one another in Alicante. It was Marc who won the match. Since then, they have played side-by-side, travelled together and become friends. It is a friendship that has endured many years. On the podcast, he had his say on what was a very successful career, but one that is perhaps lesser-known. The Spaniard enjoyed success in singles and, in particular, in doubles. Let\u2019s start at the beginning.<\/p>\n

In their early days in professional tennis, Feli and Marc spent a significant amount of time together. We often don\u2019t hear about the beginnings of a player\u2019s career and perhaps don\u2019t place much importance on it, but Feli and Marc were both keen to touch on the fact that it\u2019s an essential part of a tennis player\u2019s development and how they approach their career. Marc recognises that it was too much for him sometimes: \u201cIt\u2019s really tough, it\u2019s difficult. You have to try to get through it as quickly as possible, but I found it really hard. I was there for several years. When you\u2019re very young you play more experienced people that have a very high level. Although I had the odd good result at ATP tournaments, the reality is that it was very tough for me to overcome. Sometimes it was more mental than technical. I think I had the game, but the Top 100 barrier was a big one for me. It\u2019s still a monkey on my back\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, the gold medallist at Rio 2016 harbours no disappointment as he reminisces: \u201cIt\u2019s unfair to look back and judge the mistakes from today\u2019s perspective. Also, mistakes are what you learn from and you make decisions later. Now, during my time as a coach, having made mistakes at certain times in my career means I can help improve others\u201d.<\/p>\n

In fact, he now sees it as a positive: \u201cThe reality is that, without that \u2018failure\u2019 in singles, it\u2019s likely that I wouldn\u2019t have experienced a fraction of what I have now. I\u2019ve won things in doubles that I would never have imagined, and I was lucky enough to do that alongside some of my best friends: Rafa, Marcel, you [Feli] …\u201d.<\/p>\n

Marc also spoke about how he started his journey in doubles: \u201cIn 2009 I was thinking of retiring, it was a difficult time for me. Back then Rafa was playing doubles with Tomeu Salv\u00e1, but a few months earlier Tomeu had retired and Nadal was looking for a teammate to play with. We\u2019re very good friends and he asked me if I wanted to. I told him of course, and we won the first tournament we played together in Doha, defeating the world number one in the final. For me it was a light at a time of darkness. In my junior years, I knew I was good at doubles, in fact, I won Roland Garros and the Orange Bowl with Tommy Robredo, but at the time I could see a certain way that my career would progress. In 2010, I stopped playing singles completely and focused on doubles. Clearly, it was a great decision\u201d.<\/p>\n

After four years with Granollers, Marc formed a partnership with Feli. Team L\u00f3pez-L\u00f3pez bore fruit. They were successful on court, but apart from their achievements, they both recognise that they helped each other off court. What was the secret to their synergy? \u201cIt could have been awful\u201d, admitted Feli with a laugh, before adding: \u201cApart from playing together, travelling the world with you for three years was key for me. In the end, having a friend with whom I can spend many hours makes travelling, meals, training, etc. so much easier. The people around you are key, and being with you helped me so much on a personal level too\u201d, Feli acknowledged.<\/p>\n

Marc L\u00f3pez is yet further proof that there is no logic to a tennis career. Who would have thought to tell a Grand Slam winner, an Olympic gold medallist and ATP Finals champion that his \u2018biggest mistake\u2019 would also open the door to his greatest professional achievements.<\/p>\n

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