Nadal finally wins a title in Qatar

Doha: Rafael Nadal has at last won a title in Qatar. After losing in the singles quarterfinals against Gael Monfils, Nadal teamed up with fellow countryman Marc Lopez to upset the top-seeded pairing of Nenad Zimonjic and Daniel Nestor 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex late on Friday.

Nadal was a relieved man after the win. "I was disappointed after losing in the singles, so this title is some sort of consolation," the Spaniard said.

Although the world's top player has won 31 singles titles so far, this was only his fifth in the doubles.

Nadal, who was planning to leave from Doha yesterday, was the top seed in the singles competition. But Monfils upset his plans with a swift 6-4, 6-4 win in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

However, Nadal sort of compensated for that loss with the doubles title.

Earlier on Thursday, the Spanish duo had weathered past Fabrice Santoro and Mikhael Youzhny.

In the upper half of the draw, Zimonjic and Nestor had always looked the sturdy pair with wins against Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Peya and then against James Cerretani and Victor Hanescu in the semifinals.

The final, however, was always going to be tough for the top seeds, though they took the opening set 6-4.

But Nadal and Lopez fought back and won the second with an identical scoreline. In the deciding tie-break adopted for the doubles, Lopez sent a forehand to the left of Nestor as Nadal beamed and came running across the court to hug his doubles partner.