Nadal and his asset star in new Kia ad

Rafael Nadal is shilling—err, appearing—for Kia in a new Spanish-language commercial. Oddly, the clip is 1:20 long, and yet he doesn't show until the 1:02 mark. And what shows of him first is to be expected, I guess:

On the whole, a funny ad. Simple and playing to the (how to put it?) strengths of its actors. Nadal does not perform an homage, however, to Bar Refaeli's own new homage to him. Sorry, Rafanatics, no wedgie picking in white briefs here.

On a (major) side note, the blue clay taking over Madrid got some press from CNN. The problem is, a certain prominent player hates it. Nadal tweeted earlier this year, "It's a shame because of the history and tradition of this surface. I hope I don't have to play one day on blue grass."  

Added Roger Federer, "This is a long story, but I find it sad that you have to play on a surface the players don't accept. I find it sad that a player like Rafa, at a tournament in his own country, has had to fight against a surface that he does not want to play on."  

Indeed, all the best to tournament director Ion Tiriac as he fights a battle over a court surface against one or both of men's tennis' arguable two biggest stars.  

YOUR TURN: What do you think of Rafa's latest stab at acting, however brief? And what say you to blue clay courts?  

Enjoy the action in Davis Cup and out of Charleston, Spinsters.  

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