First Look: Rafael Nadal to Be the New Bod of Emporio Armani Underwear and Jeans

Following in the buttcheeks of David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal has signed on to be the new face and torso of Emporio Armani underwear and jeans. These are exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps from the first photo session, which will debut in February! Looks good so far -- glad they didn't pluck his eyebrows and make him look like a drag queen like they did the Portuguese stud earlier this year. (Thanks, Lynn!)

Thursday Ad Watch

If wearing a brand I haven't thought of since 1987 can make me look like this, then I GUESS I'll consider it

I wonder if Jonathan Rhys Meyer smells as good as he looks

A bearded hunk for Tommy Hilfiger is almost as good as '90s supermodel Mark Vanderloo for DKNY

"Battlestar Galactica" hunk Jamie Bamber bares all for bears in the latest ad for PETA

Very hot in -- and halfway out -- of Perry Ellis

Australian underwear and sportswear brand, teamm8, continues to up the ante. See what I mean HERE.

Justus Boyz is torso-riffic; this other ad is hot, but I don't think "masculine" underwear accurately describes grown men wit ho bods in Underoos

Rafael Nadal brings us the sweet smell of success

This week's eye-catching advertisements

See all Ad Watch posts HERE.

Rafael Nadal Plays a Little ‘Strip Tennis’ Before the U.S. Open

Best quote from The New York Times piece about the famous underwear model:

"We’re doing reverse sexism here,” said Jane Lynch, the “Glee” actress and comedian who is gay and served as the match’s umpire. “This is great. Especially the part about Rafa in his underwear. Because that could turn a girl straight, if you know what I mean.”

And this Eric Decker-looking model will do ...

Spain's Reign

In what should have been called the Battle of the Beautiful People, a Nadal-less Spain stunned Argentina to take home the Davis Cup on Sunday, with Fernando Verdasco beating Jose Acasuso in five sets to clinch the tie 3-1. While the defeat was devastating for the favored host Argentina, all that man candy on the court could only be considered a win-win for fans of the game ...

Members of the Spainish team, Feliciano Lopez, Marcel Granollers, Santiago Ventura, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and head coach Emilio Sanchez (Ventura is the team's hitting partner.)

Argentina's captain Alberto Mancini, David Nalbandian, Agustin Calleri, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Jose Acasuso

I'm not entirely sure why these Spanish fans were carrying around pairs of red underwear, unless they belong to Rafael Nadal ...

Remains of the Day (02/07)

New York Post: This app tracks your erections

HuffPost: Cops realize tiger is stuffed animal after 45-minute standoff

Metrosource: New medical study links ibuprofen to testicle damage

The New Yorker: Why paper jams persist (a trivial problem reveals the limits of technology)

Dlisted: Behold James Spader's youthful hairy pecs

Boy Culture: Did Marlon Brando really bang James Baldwin, Marvin Gaye and Richard Pryor?

Towleroad: Underwear expert Daniel Miller previews what guys are packing in boxers or briefs

Huff Post Queer Voices: How AIDS in American became a black disease

Hunk du Jour: This is what Gus Kenworthy comes home to

Complex: Wind blows off Trump's combover as he boards Air Force One

OMG Blog: Reality star Leroy Garrett from "The Real World Las Vegas 25" shows off his BBC

Gr8er Days: "Saturday Night Live" expertly parodies Bardot and Deneuve

The Film Experience: Your 8 favorite lines from "Mean Girls"?

Matthew's Island of Misfit Toys: I guess it's safe to say this hunk's a natural blond

Daily Intelligencer: Democrats just flipped their 35th state legislative seat

Jeremiah's Vanishing New York: Is this the final dance for the Village's Boots & Saddle?

The Daily News: Surviving victim of face-eater Austin Harrouff said teen warned him to stay away before brutal attack

The Randy Report: D.C. City Council trolls Donald over "Giant Tank Parade"

TFF: Gilda Radner documentary to open 2018 Tribeca Film Festival (I was an early supporter and I'm SO excited!)

The Washington Post: Senate leaders reach agreement on two-year budget deal, ignoring Trump

The Village Voice: Thousands of prisoners still denied access to books

Washington Blade: Meet the 2018 most eligible singles in D.C.

The Gay Almanac: Illinois Republican releases transphobic campaign ad

The New York Times: Google buys Chelsea Market for $2.4 billion

The Cut: A new Google doc of media men -- who have annoying habits

Back2Stonewall: Liberty Counsel hate group leader Mat Staver compares extreme right "Christian" groups to Nazi Holocaust victims

Baseline: Djokovic jokes with Nadal about needing rehab

Tennis Life: Federer to Rotterdam for a shot at No. 1

EWN: Nadal says he'll play Queen's Club

Outsports: Gay skater Adam Rippon turns down meeting with Mike Pence at 2018 Olympics

📽 from acoonitum.se @catloversclub 😂😂😂😂😂 ~ double tap ❤❤❤ #sweetcatclub

A post shared by Sweet Cat Club (@sweetcatclub) on Feb 6, 2018 at 11:19pm PST

Hot Cat of the Day: I've never met a kitty who didn't enjoy being bounced like a baby!

Weekend Tennis Roundup

Well, I predicted Roger Federer and Serena Williams would win this year's Wimbledon crowns ... and I was darn-near right. In what has to be the most devastating loss in his career -- for his fans and Roger alike -- the Swiss legend squandered two match points on his own serve, after charging back from down two sets to one and 4-2 in the fifth against an unflappable Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3). 

“I thought most of the match I was on the back foot,” said Djokovic, who now has five Wimbledon titles. “I was defending. He was dictating the play. I just tried to fight and find a way when it mattered the most, which is what happened.”

Although John McEnroe didn't want to hear it, this loss hurts Federer's legacy more than meets the eye. After losing six Grand Slam matches in a row to Rafael Nadal-- including four finals -- Fed has finally gotten the Spanish monkey off his GOAT back. And, sure, it's impressive that a 37-year-old was one point from winning the longest Wimbledon final in history.

But this win guarantees that Novak will end the year No. 1 for the sixth time, allowing him to overtake Fed in the last remaining area besides total majors he still has an advantage. And having lost from match point up to Djokovic -- what, three times in majors? Yikes. All this time we've argued Federer or Nadal as greatest of all time. But assuming he wins four more majors -- don't forget he's the only one of three contenders to hold all four at once -- it now looks like Djokovic is the actual answer. No other player has dominated this many times against this strong a field. (Sorry, Bill, wherever you are.)

As for the women, what can I say? Serena Williams (again) waltzed into the final of yet another major. But shockingly (again!), her opponent didn't curl up into the fetal position, exploiting the GOAT's utter lack of match play. While I was not surprised that people like Kerber, Osaka and Pliskova were able to capitalize on Serena's rustiness, I have to give all the credit in the world to Simona Halep, who played one of the most perfect matches I have ever seen. So stunned was I by the result, I rewatched it in its entirety two more times Saturday -- it was such a thing of beauty. All the respect in the world to the Romanian pipsqueak for rising to this huge occasion. (And can we talk about all the beef in her box?!) 

I'm so tired of the constant bullshit drama surrounding Serena Williams -- almost always started by people who know nothing about tennis -- that I refuse to even click through. But I know from the headlines that Billie Jean King is right that Serena is again at a crossroads. She definitely has one more major in her -- and god know I'd love to see Margaret Court taken down a peg. But if she wants to make history again, she can't simply phone it in like she could before. 

Couldn't take my eyes of the epic men's doubles final, and not just because Robert Farah was wearing extra-clingy shorts and what appeared to be no underwear. 

He and Juan Cabal made history, narrowly edging Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-6(6) 6-7(5) 6-3, to become the first Colombian men's doubles champions at a major. (The loss seemed to hit Christophe Roger-Vasselin's son really hard, reducing him to tears for several minutes after the match.) 

Well-earned by the social-media savvy duo!

And in women's doubles, some history was also made. A former WTA Doubles World No.1 and the next WTA Doubles World No.1 triumphed in the final.  Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic and Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei claimed the title, as the No.3 seeds eased past No.4 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Xu Yifan of China, 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and six minutes. "Oh, my God, there is no word to describe the feeling," Strycova said, in their post-match press conference. "It's kind of like unreal. But in the same time it's amazing." It is the first Grand Slam title in women’s doubles for Strycova, who will rise to WTA Doubles World No.1 in the WTA doubles rankings for the first time in her career as a result. Not bad for a women who had just reached her first major seminal at age 33.

Earlier, Ivan Dodig and Latisha Chan claimed the mixed doubles title. Croat Dodig, 34, and Taiwanese Chan, 29, prevailed 6-2 6-3 against Sweden's Robert Lindstedt and Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko in one hour and 10 minutes

And while I was rooting for Team Tracy Austin/Andrea Jaeger(!), Cara Black and Martina Navratilova ended up winning the Ladies' Invitation Doubles, defeating Marion Bartoli and Daniela Hantuchova in the final, 6–0, 3–6, [10–8]. Martina is about to turn 63!

And last but not least, apparently I have a type. Gustavo Fernandez won the men's wheelchair singles, and of course he's Argentinian. Have you seen him posing NAKED?

Around the net ...

Vacation (with Matteo Berrettini), all I ever wanted. More HERE.

Was hard to say which tennis legend was more happy about Simona's win: Martina Navratilova, who probably doesn't have to worry about Serena breaking that record too, or Chrissie, who still seems heartbroken by her pal Darren Cahill's separation from his star pupil. The correct answer is, of course, Margaret Court!

If Michael Venus is a "loser," I don't want to win.

Studly Martin Nosko has the HOTTEST STUDENTS.

WATCH: Rafael Nadal's Locker Room Strip Tease

Now that his tennis career is virtually over, Rafael Nadal has found another use for his hot bod -- cheating on his former underwear sponsor with Tommy Hilfiger. 

Page 1 Consider (05/12)

Ab-Fab: Watch how Michelangelo's David, James Dean, Mark Spitz, Brad Pitt and Marky Mark conspired to create an abs-olutely perfect world. (Video)

Did You Call Your Mother? Thomas Friedman's column about his first Mother's Day since his mother died at the age of 89 is very touching. (At her funeral a childhood friend of his, "She put the mensch in dementia.") (NYT)

Leisure Suit Required: Can't wait for the summer premiere of "Swingtown," a new CBS(!) series set in the bygone mid-'70s era of Harvey Wallbangers, shag carpeting and wife swapping in the suburbs. That's Grant Show -- aka Jake on "Melrose Places" -- behind the pornstache! (NYT)

Cry Her a River: When is Alanis Moriesette ever not hitting rock bottom over some guy? Admittedly, Ryan Reynolds is a lot less embarrassing than some guy on "Full House." But you've got to get a grip, honey. You're 43. (People)

Mommy Dearest: This boy's going to have a rough life. (And I thought I had it tough when my mom insisted I was "making myself cough" when I had bronchitis as a child. (BoyCulture)

Bottomless (Peach) Pit: Jennie "I need a chin implant" Garth is returning to her old zip code, reprising her role as Kelly Taylor on the spinoff of "Beverly Hills 90210." (And you thought "Dancing With the Stars" was hitting rock bottom.) Kelly, who is now a guidance counselor at West Beverly High, may not be licensed, but she sure has experience when it comes to bulimia, anorexia, date rape, boyfriend stealing, substance abuse, drive-by shootings and anything else a teen could whip up. (People)

Strapping: A new site for jockstrap enthusiasts? What ever will they think of next ... (StrappedMen)

Eternal Flame: The Sunday Magazine interviews director Jay Roach about his new HBO film, "Recount." But they didn't even bother asking him about his best attribute: wife, Susanna Hoffs. (SundayMag)

In Cold (Underage) Blood: The arraignment of a 14-year-old charged with murder in the shooting of a gay classmate, Lawrence King, has been postponed until June so that his lawyer can prepare a motion challenging the constitutionality of charging the youth as an adult. (365Gay)

Der Wienerschnitzel: Spencer Tunick had three requests for his latest subjects: no sunglasses, no smiling, and no underwear. The newest work by the New York photographer gathered 1,840 people, baring it all in Austria's Happel Stadium on Sunday. (AP)

25 Years and Counting: The despair that set in after the failure of the latest effort to develop an AIDS vaccine has given way to a renewed determination on the part of the scientific community, says the Canadian scientist leading an international effort to maximize global activity in the field. (TCP)

Ball's in His Court: Serbian Novak Djokovic rallied to defeat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland yesterday to win the Rome Master tennis tournament, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both upset earlier in the week, it looked like Andy Roddick had a good chance to reach the final of a Masters Series clay-court event, only to see him get injured trailing 0-3 in the first set in his semifinal versus Wawrinka. Djokovic, who now trails Nadal by just 310 points in the ATP rankings, is suddenly looking like a serious contender at the French Open later this month. (AP)

Novak's Got Back

It's no secret tennis star Novak Djokovic can't keep his shirt on, but now it seems he can't keep his britches on, either. The 20-year-old Seriban, who stunned Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to take the title last week in Montreal, proved just how relaxed all week by taking some time out from training to do a little underwear modeling along with Nadal-lookalike Adriano Biasella of Italy at an ATP Fashion Show. Looks like Biasella, a former player at USC, likes what he sees, too. (TSF)

Weekend Tennis Roundup

Titles for Jannik Sinner and Mirra Andreeva plus seven nations advanced to the BJK Cup finals. Full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.