Where is Tommy Robredo these days ??? Has he retired ?

And who is Marc Lopez? Is he new whizz kid, or gnarled old timer?

lol, deuce! Marc Lopez is a bit over 30 but certainly not gnarled! He's a perennial challenger tour player, converted to doubles on the main tour after landing Rafa as a doubles partner back in Jan 2009. They've won a few tournaments, in particular winning the Indian Wells doubles in 2010 which gave Marc enough points to qualify for ATP doubles on his own. Marc's peppy, cheerful and friendly and has had no trouble finding mostly Spanish partners to fill the bulk of his time when Rafa's not playing doubles. He's a very good doubles player, although weak on the backhand side. He's been serving as a practice partner for La Armada for the past year or so.

Cheers Ramara, thanx for that :) Gr8 he got to be part of that team. Doesn't the beautiful Mr F Lopez usually play doubles, though?

Spain has depth, and it's good that these other players have had their day in the sun. If the others hadn't taken a well earned rest, these guys would not have been able to show what they can do. I actually think the Feli/Nando doubles duo has had it's day.

Congrats to Spain for reaching the quarters again. Got to say, this is Spain's C team at this DC tie, but whether it's A team with Rafa, or B team without Rafa but with Ferrer, or C team without any of the A team members, Spain still is good enough to win the DC tie. So happy that Ferrero won his match, even though he struggled a bit. Oh Happy Birthday to him too, turning 32 on 12 Feb. So happy for Marc and Marcel too, maybe they'll take over the doubles duty from Verdasco/F Lopez in future. Well done to Almagro too..

First of all big congrats to all the Spanish team for the win. I think Marc Lopez is also a very good friend of Rafa.

Nadal and MLopez took the doubles title in Doha last year...Rafa was sick but did not want to let his good friend Marc down...they are great friends and train together quite often...I think Marc/Marcel is much better solution than Verda/Feli...great to see Spain in the quarters...I can't stand the trashing Spanish athletes are receiving these days and French idiocy over it...the French TV parody and insults over Rafa and other Spanish athletes suggesting they were doping is making me mad and sad...what kind of idiots could hurt the perfect image of the players who have achieved so much in a stupid puppet show? I would suit them...I hope Rafa takes the FO title again...those poor, miserable and pathetic French can drop dead of envy...sorry guys, I know I am not supposed to bring these things up, but I am so upset about this whole thing and just had to let it out...