While Rafael Nadal is working to close quicker, he draws delight from going the distance.
Reflecting on his run to the Australian Open final, Nadal said he enjoyed his epic four hour, 56-minute semifinal win over Grigor Dimitrov and his three hour, 37-minute final loss to Roger Federer more than matches that ended “in an hour.”
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In a talk with about one thousand Banco Sabadell customers at the Palexo Auditorium in La Coruña, Spain, Nadal touched on a variety of topics, including his belief that longer matches are more exciting and entertaining than shorter matches.
"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,” Nadal said in comments published by EFE Agency. “A five-hour match is much more satisfying than a one-hour one.”
The 14-time Grand Slam champion, who officially opened his Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in his native Mallorca last year, said he resisted the urge to move to tax-free haven like Monte Carlo for a simple reason: He’s happiest living in his hometown.
"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,” Nadal told the crowd. “In another country, I would have double the money but be only half as happy. Money doesn't buy happiness.”
The nine-time Roland Garros champion also revealed his confidence crisis bothered him on and off the court in 2015, conceding he “could not control the nerves and tension.”
"It's hard to explain,” Nadal said in comments published by EFE. “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.”
The 30-year-old Spaniard said despite losing five straight games falling to Federer in the Melbourne final, he’s encouraged by his start to 2017.
"I ended up happy because I know I took a really big step," Nadal said.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve