World number 1 Rafael Nadal has had a memorable 2019 season, winning two major crowns and two Masters 1000 trophies to stay in touch with Roger Federer in the GOAT race. The Spaniard became the oldest No.1 player at the end of the year since the rankings began in 1973, winning at least one ATP title for the 16th consecutive season, a record, and extending his dominance at Roland Garros after winning won the 12th title.
Rafa finished the season with the Davis Cup finalist title for Spain and was set for another team competition in January 2020 at the ATP Cup. Speaking about the best decision he has made in his career, the most famous Spanish athlete remarked that he never wanted to leave Spain to go and live elsewhere.
Despite high taxes and an indefinite career due to early years injuries, Rafa never wanted to leave Mallorca, not even for Barcelona, where he had the opportunity to train for free.
Surrounded by his family and working under the guidance of his uncle, Rafa has achieved incredible things over the past 16 years, becoming one of the greatest players of all time and establishing a legacy that will hardly be matched.
Rafael Nadal explained his decision to stay in Spain
“Staying here at Manacor was the best decision I’ve made; it’s one of the most satisfying choices of my career.
When I was young, I had the opportunity to go to train at the Sant Cugat high performance center in Barcelona, without paying anything. Still, I wanted to stay home, work with my uncle, and keep my family around me, even if that meant my family had to make significant financial sacrifices.
When I turned professional, some people suggested that I go and live somewhere else, because it would have been very beneficial in terms of money. But I decided to stay in Spain and pay a 50% tax on anything I won from tennis in what could have been a short career.
I would have made a lot more money if I had lived abroad, but it wouldn’t have made me happy, and it could have cost me more personally “
“I don’t know if at that point I would have been mentally prepared to go to train and live elsewhere. In Spain, athletes pay a high tax rate, and a lot of what we do. we earn comes from abroad, where the tax rate is higher.
Still, I have never regretted my decision, because it also helped me professionally and allowed me to achieve all of these things that I have done, “said Rafael Nadal.
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