PHOTO OP: The US Davis Cup team enjoys some 'manly moments'

One of the best things, we think, about sports is seeing grown men get all touchy-feely with each other when something great happens - a Super Bowl win, World Series title, an NBA Championship. But as an individual sport, tennis usually misses out on these 'manly moments'...unless it's Davis Cup. The US team's fantastic win over defending champions Russia this past weekend gave the men a great opportunity to celebrate in the best way possible: with a little man-on-man action.

See? A little man-on-man lovin' never hurt anyone...

(images via AP Photo)

THE LOW DOWN: Richard GasGay, Part Deux

Those pesky gay rumors keep following Richard Gasquet. Back in April of this year, the Frenchman took a defensive stance when asked about his sexuality during the Monte Carlo Masters saying, "This question [about his sexuality] has come back hundreds of times, and every time someone turns up saying, Oh, I have evidence. It is just bullshit."

But according to OutSports, during the recent Masters Cup in Shanghai Richard again denied the gay rumors. A journalist questioned him about his post-match plans after a beatdown by Spain's David Ferrer:

Q. Now your matches are finished. Do you still have any plan to go around
the city maybe with your uncle or your girlfriend?

RG: My uncle? No. My girlfriend, no. I have no girlfriend, so I will
try to find one, one Chinese girl. Why not? Why not? I lost 6-1, 6-1. It will be
very hard for me tonight. I’m ready to lose, you know.

Q. Who is the girl watching your match with your uncle?

RG: Not my girl. I don’t know. Not my girl, for sure. No, no, no, I
have just friends. Men friends, but I’m not gay.

Hmmm, defensive much?

(image via AP Photo)

PHOTO OP: Feliciano and Rafael share a tender moment, give their fans hope

We knew Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Rafael Nadal were best friends, but are they sharing more than friendship here? They're even wearing matching outfits.

Maybe the conversation went something like this:

Rafa: "But, I want to wear the blue headwrap, Feli!"

Feliciano: "Fine Rafa, you can wear the blue one and I'll wear the white one. But I'm not happy about it."

One can dream...

SIGHTING: Novak Djokovic dresses up, visits Vienna zoo

Dress you up: We've been very un-closeted about our admiration for Novak Djokovic's game, not to mention Nole himself. Clearly we'll take the Serb shirtless and packing, but we'll also take him all gussied up - looking smart and sexy - while playing with furry things at the Vienna zoo during the BA-CA Tennis Trophy tournament in Austria. What is it about hot guys in glasses that puts us over the edge?

But just one request Nole: No more Vegas moments, okay?

(images via zolles.com)

HOT or NOT: Feliciano vs. Stefan

Here we have our latest HOT or NOT candidates. Feliciano Lopez and local favorite Stefan Koubek played a second round match at this week's BA-CA Tennis Trophy in Vienna, Austria. The Spaniard emerged the victor in this battle 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Unfortunately, they were both sporting the same Nike threads in this match - another one of our pet peeves (tour stylist, anyone?)


Feliciano is a self-proclaimed metrosexual and is BFF's with World No. 2 Rafael Nadal. We've always thought he was sexy, maybe a little TOO pretty, but sexy just the same. His striking blue eyes, chiseled face, and fit body - hello, check out those arms!


Stefan also has a great body - here we get another peek at his six-pack and the sexy belly-button surprise we first noticed at the US Open this summer. He's fiery too - the Austrian was the latest player to get booted from a match - this time for foul language. Though we don't condone cursing out the umpire, we do think his stubborness is intriguing for all the wrong reasons- yes, we have issues.

HOT or NOT: Feliciano vs. Stefan

Tell us!

SIGHTING: Rafael Nadal takes in Eurobasket, cheers for Spanish basketball team

Thanks to our reader Maxwell for sending us these great pics of sexy Rafael Nadal watching the Spanish basketball team compete and win in the semifinals of Eurobasket, the European basketball championships in Madrid. Unfortunately they lost to Russia in the finals the next day - boo!

We agree with Maxwell - we think Rafa looks hot in his black military-style button down shirt and jeans.

One other question: who's the cutie in the white shirt sitting to Rafa's left in the very top picture? Hmmm....

(images via Polfoto, Terra.es)

Fernando Gonzalez wins China Open, shows off "sexiest legs in tennis"

Fernando Gonzalez won his first title in almost 2 years by defeating Spain's Tommy Robredo for the China Open title this weekend. We've always been admirer's of the handsome Chilean and these photos reaffirm our thinking. Wow - Fernando has some incredibly sexy legs. We won't divulge the visuals running through our mind right now...ouch.

(images via AP Photo)

THE LOW DOWN: TENNIS magazine plays gay

One of our fave gay media blogs, Queerty, found an eerie similarity between TENNIS magazine's latest cover look and gay mag The Advocate's 40th anniversary issue redesign. Have queer people finally infiltrated the corporate tennis ranks? Duh, of course...we're everywhere!

SIGHTING: Jake Gyllenhaal takes in US Open men's final

We somehow missed hottie Jake Gyllenhaal checking out the US Open action this past weekend. And, the Oscar-nominated actor wasn't alone: he was sporting cute arm candy in the form of longtime friend Chris Fischer, a sous chef at popular NYC eaterie Babbo.

Though we'd like to think our usual thoughts about Jake ("he IS gay!") we don't think this is the proof in the puddin'...*sigh*

(via Towleroad)

SEPARATED AT BIRTH: Roger vs. Liza

Total sacrilege: Separated at birth or is Liza Minelli doing her best "Darth Federer" impression, headband and all? (images courtesy of AP Photo)

PHOTO OP: Novak Djokovic wins, goes shirtless for his fans

Yes, we love when Novak Djokovic wins as he did today to get to his first Grand Slam final. Keeping with his tradition, the world's sexiest Serb celebrated his semifinal win over Spain's David Ferrer by removing his shirt. He sure knows how to spoil his fans...*sigh*

PHOTO OP: Ex-cabana boy offers spray-down at US Open

Get your spray on: Just some late Friday afternoon eye candy from the US Open. Meet hottie Jonathan Hays, an ex-cabana boy for The Four Seasons in Palm Beach and current model in New York City. Lucky tennis fans visiting the Open on this hot afternoon have the opportuntiy to sit back, relax, and let Jonathan spray all over them...with Evian water spritz of course. (via The New York Observer)

Stefan Koubek loses to Blake, reveals belly-button surprise

While watching Stefan Koubek take on James Blake last night at the US Open, we realized we had never noticed his amazing body. The Austrian is sporting some serious guns and you know how much we like that. Plus, when he pulled up his shirt he revealed a six-pack and a very sexy belly-button piercing. It makes us wonder what else Stefan may be hiding under his tennis gear...ouch.

PHOTO OP: Novak Djokovic bends back for victory

Wow - there are so many visuals going through our heads right now that we don't know where to start. Novak Djokovic celebrated his 5-set win over Czech Radek Stepanek at the US Open today by showing his fans more of what his body can do. Keep it up Nole - we'll be watching...

PHOTO OP: Too many balls for Jelena

We can safely say we've never had this reaction to having too many balls in our face...

Alex Kuznetsov arms his way to US Open 1st round loss

We're such dogs over here at Down the Line! We can't help ourselves when it comes to cute male tennis players. While reviewing US Open tennis coverage from yesterday's 1st round, we spotted up-and-coming American Alex Kuznetsov.


We first remember noticing Alex (and his sexy arms) at this year's Australian Open, playing fellow American James Blake in the second round.

Unfortunately, we won't get to see anymore of Alex: he lost his 1st rounder to Spain's Nicolas Almagro...*sigh*

HOT or NOT: Rafael vs. Novak

Here we have 2 of the hottest players on the ATP tour, and we're not talking about their games. Spain's Rafael Nadal has an incredible body - those arms are sick. Plus, the Spaniard has some serious "junk in the trunk." We think he looks good best when he's giving it his all on the tennis court - and not bad off it either.

Serb Novak Djokovic has powered his way to No. 3 in the world and is pushing for the top. We know he packs some serious heat in his game and otherwise. But the best part: the Djoker has this tendency to always want to take his clothes off - something Down the Line! and some others can truly appreciate!

HOT or NOT: Rafa vs. the Djoker. Tell us!

SIGHTING: The boys of the ATP get cookin' for charity

Continuing the media merry-go-round before the US Open, a few of the boys from the ATP tour put down their tennis rackets and picked up a spatula for charity. Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, and Lleyton Hewitt joined chef Todd Mark Miller to prepare food at the 8th annual 'Dacor Taste Of Tennis' charity event at the W Hotel in New York City.

A-Rod looked his typical jovial self while Rafa won the award for "Hottest Tennis Player in an Apron." But could Hewitt look any more disinterested? He should get some pointers on how to fake it for the camera from his wife, Aussie actress Bec Hewitt. It's for charity, man!

FASHION FIX: Spain's sexiest players get dressed, turn up the heat for Spanish Marie Claire

Fernando Verdasco

Some of Spain's hottest tennis players are appearing in Spanish Marie Claire under the title Sex Point: Tenistas Espanoles. Stepping out of their tennis gear and into some fashion duds, these players strike a sexy pose.

Carlos Moya & Guillermo Garcia-Lopez

Tommy Robredo & David Ferrer

(via ATP)

Novak Djokovic in shorts, packs serious heat

Okay - as if we needed more proof of Novak Djokovic's hotness. Wow - what is tennis' sexiest Serb packing in those shorts?

We have our own guesses...oy...