How Nadal's yacht boosts his game and personal life

Rafael Nadal is one of the most successful players of all time and it comes with a price, but thankfully he has the pockets to pay for it. Last year, the 34-year-old purchased a custom-built Sunroof 80 Power catamaran that's just arrived this summer to give him the perfect way to regroup mentally and physically.

"I can get away from the stress that way," Nadal said in a recent *Forbes* interview. "To me it’s important, it helps me restore positive energy. That’s something that helps me move forward with my tennis career, it’s one of the things I really appreciate in boating."

He lives in Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and being around boats is a part of the island lifestyle he's accustomed to. He sold his first yacht, a 76-foot Italian-built MCY 76 motor yacht named Beethoven, for $3 million, and before that, in 2013, he owned a 62-foot speedboat. His new customized catamaran is estimated to have cost $5-6 million.

With his normally packed schedule, he's relishing the flexibility of being able to go out on the water on his own terms instead of relying on a charter schedule.

"When your boat is next to your house, you wake up, have breakfast and say: you know what, I want to spend the day out there on the boat," Nadal told Forbes.

The world No. 2 explained how yachting makes a positive difference in his career and personal life. The 80-foot catamaran almost feels like home and gives him the perfect getaway from all of the stress on land.

"It’s a yacht that you can use like a home. The saloon is bigger than in my house, honestly!" he said. "The diversity of living spaces helps you enjoy the sea from all perspectives."

The yacht can hold up to 12 guests, as well as a tender, jet skis and other water toys. The possibilities are really endless.

Nadal hasn't taken the boat past the Balearic Islands yet, since he doesn't have a lot of spare time between training and growing his academy.

"Hopefully in the near future I will have the chance to take the boat to other places and discover the world," Nadal said.

Since Nadal won't be at the US Open this month, he should have more time to enjoy his extraordinary boat life before the European swing begins.