(EFE) Rafael Nadal told Banco Sabadell customers Tuesday in the northwestern city of La Coruña that living in Spain did not make sense from a tax standpoint, but he was happy in his homeland: “In terms of managing assets, perhaps it would be better to go to another country with more beneficial conditions, but Spain is where I’m happy, with my family and friends. In another country, I would have double the money but be only half as happy. Money doesn’t buy happiness.”

Rafa, the world No. 6, said he enjoyed “a five-hour match,” like the semifinals and finals at the Australian Open, more than matches that were over “in an hour” and the outcome was known after two sets.

“I’d like (to close out matches faster), but I don’t know. The long and exciting matches are the ones that you’re happy to have played. A five-hour match is much more satisfying than a one-hour one,” Rafa, who has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, said.

Rafa said he was happy about his performance at the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam event, but was still recovering from the effects of spending an entire month Down Under.

“What I’m the happiest about is that I’m competing on the court and I enjoyed myself in all the matches and played at a high level,” Rafa said.

El tenista Rafa Nadal diserta sobre la importancia de la cercanía en un mundo cada vez más globalizado en un encuentro organizado por el banco Sabadell en A Coruña. EFE/Cabalar

Photo by Sindo Novoa

El tenista Rafa Nadal diserta sobre la importancia de la cercanía en un mundo cada vez más globalizado en un encuentro organizado por el banco Sabadell en A Coruña. EFE/Cabalar

El tenista Rafa Nadal diserta sobre la importancia de la cercanía en un mundo cada vez más globalizado en un encuentro organizado por el banco Sabadell en A Coruña. EFE/Cabalar

El tenista Rafa Nadal diserta sobre la importancia de la cercanía en un mundo cada vez más globalizado en un encuentro organizado por el banco Sabadell en A Coruña. EFE/Cabalar

El tenista Rafa Nadal diserta sobre la importancia de la cercanía en un mundo cada vez más globalizado en un encuentro organizado por el banco Sabadell en A Coruña. EFE/Cabalar

Rafa acknowledged that there were “times” in 2015 when he was not enjoying himself, felt “more anxiety” and could not “control the nerves and the tension.”

“It’s hard to explain. Whether having won or lost, I would get back to my room and think: You’ve won practically everything, why get nervous. You mulled it over and the next day, the same thing. Competition changes you,” Rafa said.

Rafa said his loss to Swiss star Roger Federer in the Australian Open on Jan. 29 did not affect him negatively.

“I ended up happy because I know I took a really big step,” Rafa said.

Source: EFE