When Rafael Met Refaeli: Nadal in new swimsuit issue

Vamos? Rafael Nadal turns something short of centerfold in Sports Illustrated's new swimsuit issue, pairing with Israeli model Bar Refaeli for the notorious annual publication. (Note: "Notorious" doesn't always deserve a negative connotation.) Their series of shots smolders slightly better than he did in Shakira's "Gypsy" video. Which is to say that the two do, in fact, smolder. In any case, loverly photos—and we also like their strikingly similar names.

Legendary photographer Walter Iooss photographed these not-ugly humans. They were shot for the model's "Bar & the Boys" spread with other athletes including pool shark—err, swimmer—Michael Phelps. Iooss previously snapped Andy Roddick's wife Brooklyn Decker for SI's 2009 swimsuit issue.

Just us, or does Bar Refaeli look more than a bit like actress Julia Stiles here? And it's funny how Rafa's arms look considerably smaller when he's not doing anything. See, people, he's still human.

Of course this shoot will do nothing to cease the silly rumor that Nadal and girlfriend Maria Perello ("Xisca") could be on the outs. And, well, we think this captured Xisca's response to the new photo spread right here.

What do you think of the Rafael-meets-Refaeli shots—raining aces or unforced errors?

—Jonathan Scott (Follow me on Twitter @jonscott9.)