Nike has dropped a saucy new advertisement that celebrates Nadal and which seems to throw some major shade at Federer and Djokovic.

This came as the gridlock between modern tennis’ three greats – Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – who were all tied on 20 grand slam wins each coming into 2022, was broken, with Nadal winning his 21st grand slam on Sunday as he took out the Australian Open, beating #2 in the world Daniil Medvedev in an incredible comeback.

After the match, Nike, which sponsors Nadal (and which used to sponsor Federer until he signed with Uniqlo in 2018), posted the following to Twitter.

“Advantage, Nadal. Today, @rafaelnadal made history by becoming the first male tennis player ever to reach 21 Majors. Rafa has been on a relentless journey to clinch this historic 21st Slam. He now stands alone at the top as the GOAT in the men’s game.”

This was accompanied by a video showcasing an audio montage of all Nadal’s success over the years (as well as his recent injury struggles, and quotes like “Is this the last we’ve seen of Rafa?”), climaxing in the moment the numbers tick up to 20, before the word ‘Deuce’ flashes up onto the screen.

There is then a pause, before the counter ticks over to 21. And then the playful words: “Advantage, Nadal.”

The campaign also appeared on billboards around the globe in such cities as New York, London and Los Angeles.

Before we go any further, we should note that Federer himself left an ultra-classy congratulatory post to Nadal following the Spaniard’s win. Djokovic also left a congratulatory note to Nadal.

Someone at Nike, however, was clearly feeling bold and took the opportunity to make the above Nadal video. As the cheeky clip points out though, Nadal won’t necessarily stay on top of the mountain forever. The clip doesn’t end in “Match, Nadal,” but “Advantage, Nadal.”

For those wondering about the back-story with Federer, he gave up a reported $10 million a year deal with Nike in 2018 and penned a huge 10 year deal with Uniqlo for $300 million. This didn’t apply to his footwear though (just clothes). So Federer was then also able to pen a deal with Swiss brand On Running (which included an ownership stake in the company of about 3%).

On Running were valued at $10 billion last year, meaning Federer’s share was worth about $300 million.

As DMARGE reported last year, Federer’s deal with Uniqlo was smart, but it’s his move with On Running that was really savvy. Since its founding in 2010, On Running has come to capture 40% of the Swiss performance sneaker market, 10% of the German market and even 6.6% of the US market.

The upshot? It’s enjoying a profitable symbiosis with Federer, the champ’s star power (despite his injury woes of late) further elevating the business (and lining his own pockets in the process).

Given such a smart play from Federer back in 2018, perhaps it’s no wonder Nike (appear) to have enjoyed having a gentle dig after Nadal’s win.

Djokovic, for his part, is sponsored by French clothing giant Lacoste, on a contract reported to be valued at $US9 million (AU $12.5 million).

The real question now is: who’s going to catch Nadal for number 21? Federer would appear a very long shot at this point but we’re reluctant to ever rule him out. And you can bet your bottom dollar Djokovic is raring to have a crack. There are even reports he has now decided to get vaccinated after Nadal’s Australian Open win.

Our heart’s on Federer but our money’s on Djokovic.

• Roger Federer’s New Sneaker Deal Reveals Why Top Athletes Are Leaving Big Brands
• Roger Federer’s ‘Ballsy’ Nike Gamble Pays Off Big Time

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Flying overseas right now is still a freaky thought for many Australians. Though we’re now able to leave the country, it’s still not on many people’s radars to actually do it. Why? We’re worried about insurance (or, at least, the potential complexities around it), how catching COVID (or getting stuck overseas because of COVID) affects your annual leave, and the inevitable question: “Why risk getting stuck with flight credit and getting burned on cancelled hotel bookings when I could just book one more year of holidays at home and return to overseas travel when it goes mainstream again?”But what is it like to travel abroad right now? Surely some people are doing it. You’re right: they are. One such person, creative director, author and stylist Jeff Lack today set off to New York (via LA) from Sydney, flying with Delta. He sent DMARGE some footage of what it was like, noting some people are still wearing hazmat suits, and telling us the hundreds of dollars he spent on an exit row seat turned out to be a bit pointless (as the flight was sparse).

“It wasn’t difficult at all.”

The main difference to pre 2020 travel was “getting the test” and “just being organised” Jeff said. “We were really lucky in the past to have such ease of travel. It reminded me of post 911 – wasn’t that level of caution but it was similar. You knew you had to be considered and thoughtful in your approach.”Video: Passengers Wearing Hazmat Suits At Sydney Airport

Jeff also told us that it was great to see “the joy in the faces of the people working in airline industry and resorts.”“It was wild – the first Virgin International flight in close to two years. They were so happy even though the plane was three quarters full on the way over and half full on the way back. It was really cool to be part of it.”Jeff also said it was great to get back out there and get a stamp in the passport.

“I’ve been travelling internationally for 20 years and 2019 I had two trips – one to Japan and one to New Zealand – and in 2020 I missed it.”

If you, too, are missing overseas travel, hopefully this article will give you a bit of an idea about what it might be like the next time you step on an overseas-bound plane.Read Next

• The Sad New Reality Of Flying Domestically In Australia
• Why Flying In Business Class Is Actually More Stressful Than Economy

The post ‘Grim’ Photo Shows What It’s Like Flying From Australia To America Right Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Tom Holland is one of the most successful young actors currently working in Hollywood; his latest film, Spider-Man: No Way Home is smashing box office records and he’s co-starring with Oscar-nominee and veteran actor, Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming film adaptation of the video game of the same name, Uncharted.

But it seems Holland is just like every other 25-year-old male, as he admitted yesterday that embarrassed himself in front of Wahlberg, by being slightly dirty-minded.

During an interview with Access Hollywood, Wahlberg goaded Holland into telling the hilarious story of how Holland thought Wahlberg had given him a sex toy massager and thought that Wahlberg wanted to use it together in Holland’s hotel room.

Holland, clearly horrified, says to Wahlberg during the interview, “you want me to tell that story do you?!” He then goes on to explain that when the two first met at Wahlberg’s house before they started filming Uncharted, Holland was a bit nervous and shocked when Wahlberg gave him a massager as a gift.

“Essentially, Mark Wahlberg was kind enough to give me a massage gun after I left his house in LA and he drove me back to my hotel and at the time I was confused as to what kind of massage gun this was, having never seen one before, and I thought it was [a] type of self-pleasure [massager] and I thought Mark Wahlberg was driving me back to my house for other reasons other than just being a gentleman.”

Tom Holland

At this, Wahlberg throws his hands up, pretending to be offended – as he’s clearly heard this story before – but Holland jokingly defends himself by saying:

“I didn’t know you; it’s Hollywood baby, who knows what’s gonna happen.”

Wahlberg then tells his side of the story.

“We’d been talking about working out, fitness, recovery, all this stuff, you know; I have a company… we make the best massage guns out there, so I was like ‘I wanna gift you one, this’d be great for your recovery’.”

Mark Wahlberg

Then, Wahlberg recalls offering (as nothing more than as an innocent act of kindness) to drive Holland to his hotel so the young star didn’t have to take an Uber.

“We’re driving with this massage gun and I can’t believe the whole time [Holland was] thinking that; I’m just trying to have a conversation with [Holland]. Talking about [Holland’s] family, and talking about my kids…”

Holland interjects with “why’d you think I was so nervous?!” To which Wahlberg smartly retorts:

“You gotta get your head out of the gutter buddy.”

While Holland doesn’t reveal exactly what he thought Wahlberg wanted to do in that hotel room with the massage gun that Holland thought was a sex toy, we can guess, and therefore, can understand why Holland was so nervous during that car ride… Perhaps, we need to get our heads out of the gutter too.

• Oscar Isaac Pranked Dune Director With His Modesty Sock
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The post Tom Holland Admits To Awkward ‘Sex Toy’ Moment With Mark Wahlberg appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Video: Jeff Bezos’ boat sails through Rotterdam bridge (on its way to the shipyard)

A Rotterdam Bridge is going to be dismantled so that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ boat can sail through it, local media is reporting. The bridge, which is to be pulled apart, is called The Koningshavenbrug, and is known to locals as De Hef. It was renovated in 2017 and the council promised at the time they wouldn’t dismantle it again.Local broadcaster Rijnmond said on Wednesday that this pledge is set to be broken to let Bezos’ yacht, which is still under construction, through. The bridge, placed over the river in 1927, is an important part of the city’s history and was seriously damaged during the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940.According to Rotterdam Pages, “In Rotterdam the Koningshaven bridge is mostly popular as the De Hef. Because it is a lift bridge from 1927. The De Hef part stands for lift.”“Actually from 1877 until 1927 the Koningshavenbrug in Rotterdam was a swing bridge causing a smaller passage. As a result many ship-collisions against the bridge pillars. With the last collision in 1918. Hence the decision for a lift bridge by the engineer P. Joosting,” Rotterdam Pages adds.Rotterdam Pages adds: “During World War II the De Hef in Rotterdam was damaged and fixed for the trains. Nowadays the bridge is a monument. The lift part is 52 meters long and moves up 45 meters. Still the bridge decks in the Nieuwe Maas river are from 1877. The highest point of the bridge is at 70 meters.”

I can’t wait for billionaire bootlickers to defend his $500,000,000 yacht needing to get through.

https://t.co/ptdqup9FWX— Tim Hendricks (@Saltwatertattoo) February 2, 2022

The bridge is now a protected monument. But in this era of the metaverse and global shipping, it appears nothing is safe from the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos: as Dutch News.nl reportts, “Bezos’ three-masted yacht is being built by the Oceano shipyard in Alblasserdam but is too big to pass under the bridge when the central section is raised to its full height.”

“Now Oceano and Bezos have approached the council about temporarily dismantling the bridge at their cost.”

Dutch News.nl cites broadcaster Rijnmond, who claimed city officials were willing to dismantle the bridge, despite the resistence of local history experts. According to Dutch News.nl: Ton Wesselink of the local history society Historisch Genootschap Roterodamum said: “Jobs are important, but there are limits with what you can and should do with our industrial heritage.”Dutch News.nl also reported that “project leader Marcel Walravens said: ‘it is about a ship with high masts which cannot pass through the bridge. The only alternative is to take out the middle section,'” and that he hopes that the middle section of the bridge will only need to be removed for one day, if the project is done with enough preparation.Bezos’ 127 metre long boat is going to be the biggest in the world, Boat International reports.

Another wrote: “How many of you would buy a massive yacht if you had Bezos money? It’s just so damn gaudy. Does he even have enough friends to have a party on it? Is it just him and his wife and the crew on there?”

“Maybe I’d have a sail boat or something but I feel you have to be a jackass to buy a YACHT.”

Others blamed the government: “So they rebuild a bridge and block access to one of their own companies that make ships. And it is the customer’s fault?”Meanwhile, others blamed the shipyard: “Sounds like the shipyard’s fault. They never should have taken the contract if they knew they couldn’t get the ship out of their yard without dismantling the bridge. The local authorities should say no, and let the shipyard be stuck with a yacht they can’t deliver to its new owner.”

Another opined: “They probably checked with whatever agency during their bidding on the contract, or during negotiation. The agency gave them a price for whatever it’ll cost to remove whatever parts of the bridge and put it back, and they factored that in.”

“Or, they did it and hoped, and know that they’ll have plenty of cash to pay whatever it’ll cost. It’s a 1-day ‘dismantling’ and rebuild, they aren’t changing much.”

Time will tell. In the meantime check out these other outlandish superyacht stories, or check out this wild footage of a mega yacht squeezing through pancake thin Dutch canals.Read Next

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• Jaw-Dropping French Riviera Video Shows Why Superyachts Never Open Their Sails

The post Jeff Bezos’ Yacht Will Dismantle Dutch Landmark appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From scandal after scandal hitting the news, and catastrophe after catastrophe spluttering around the world, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. But in times like these it’s more important than ever to look after yourself.While we’ve (thankfully) come to realise, in these recent years, that this encompasses far more than trying to make your stomach look like it was just pressed into a metal grate, working out, as we’ve devoted countless pages too, is a really useful tool for boosting both your mental and physical health.Speaking of which, the most cartoonishly masculine man on Instagram, Dan Bilzerian, yesterday took to social media to show off a workout which shows getting ripped doesn’t have to be all about weights. He posted a clip of himself skipping.Video: Dan Bilzerian Skipping

To be fair, he could also be seen at the end of the clip preparing to do some bicep curls, so it would appear Bilzerian is not adverse to moving metal. But still: it’s a handy reminder of an inexpensive, often overlooked exercise that you can do pretty much anywhere, and which has a multitude of benefits (and not just if you’re a boxer).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Bilzerian (@danbilzerian)

There is plenty of research to support the benefits of skipping. Science Daily cites studies that showed skipping has the potential to burn up to 1,300 calories per hour. Skipping is also, arguably, a ‘safer’ alternative to running, as your body’s weight is absorbed by both legs on each jump, putting less pressure on your knees compared to running.RELATED: Dan Bilzerian Hotel Workout Proof You Don’t Need A Gym To Get In ShapeJumping rope is also a great cardio challenge, and a full-body workout, since it uses pretty much all the major muscle groups in your organism: your legs, your arms, your back and even your core and obliques. And if it ever gets too easy; switch to a weighted jump rope and watch things get hard all over again.Read Next

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The post Dan Bilzerian Shows Off Inexpensive Exercise For Getting Ripped appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Video: Liver King’s ‘Ball & Chain’ Workout

Fitness maniac Liver King (aka Brian Johnson), an Ameican man who uses his body as a visceral advertisement for various nutrition and supplement products (and to inspire people to eat animal organs), has come out with yet another wild workout which is probably designed simply to get people talking about it, but which is so absurd we can’t help but give it airtime anyway.

The, as we like to call it, ‘ball and chain’ workout, involves draping yourself in chains, picking up a couple of kettlebells, and attaching yourself to a flashy sports boat, before walking along and dragging the boat along behind you.

Though, as the other article we wrote this morning delved into, we shouldn’t take old dating stereotypes like ‘ball and chain’ too seriously (as, among other things, they can lead to a sad, boring and lonely dating life), the comparison in this instance was too good to pass up.

In any case, this workout, should you happen to have a lake, a boat, chains, and kettlebells at your disposal could be your ticket to seriously working out your abs, shoulders, and legs.

If not, simply enjoy watching it, and allow yourself to be inspired by Liver King’s words of encouragement.

Liver King captioned the workout video: “Most people see a beautiful day as an opportunity to sit back and relax. To be clear, Liver King sees a blue sky the same way I see rain or snow.”

“That’s just another opportunity to earn the hell outta the life I behold.”

“Before I spend the day on the boat, you better believe I’m pulling it across the lake first… bare feet slipping in the mud… chains around my neck and kettlebells in both hands…”

Liver King also said that you can still find a way to struggle even if you don’t own expensive maritime equipment: “Make no excuses, Primal. You don’t need a boat or a body of water to create struggle. Just find something heavy and strive until your blood f**king burns!”

“Then, and only then, have you truly earned yourself the spoils of the modern world…”

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The post Liver King’s ‘Girlfriend’ Workout Could Be Your Ticket To Abs Of Steel appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Video: Woman’s Experience Going Out Solo

An American woman has, in our view, revealed the big problem with single men in 2022: device dependency. The woman, who recently moved cities for work, and who is done with dating apps, created a series of TikTok videos in which she goes out on her own and records what happens. 

This was TikTok user Angelica Explains It All’s New Years resolution – to swap dating apps for solo excursions. However, her first night out alone was a disaster. Why? She spoke to no one and ended up in tears after having a “really hard” night.

Angelica walked past a beer garden full of people hanging out with their friends and went inside. She then says: “Ok, that did not go well and was a little embarrassing. I’m going to see if I can find another place to go though.”

Angelica then went to a jazz club, where she didn’t have a good time because it was so crowded. “Not going as planned,” she said. “I don’t know what I thought [would happen]. I genuinely thought I was going to meet people. The jazz bar was too crowded, there wasn’t even anywhere to sit. I’m going to keep trying but that was really hard.”

She received an outpouring of support online, with many social media users commending her for her bravery and expressing empathy. The video has been viewed more than 1.5 million times. 

“This is actually remarkably brave,” one TikTok user wrote. “I’m sorry the night didn’t end the way you wanted, but am genuinely proud of you for trying.”

Another suggested: “Bring a journal when you go, and write down how you’re feeling at the time. It’ll give you something to do at the bar & help work through the feelings.”

“I used to go out alone all the time,” another wrote. “The key is to AVOID busy bars for obvious reasons, try a small cocktail bar or a dive bar on the weekdays.”

Further suggestions included: “I’ve heard to go to hotel bars where you’ll meet people traveling for work so they might be solo” and “go to a dive bar and bring a book! Sometimes I do the crossword puzzle on my phone and [if] I want to talk to someone I ask them to help me lol.”

Angelica seemed honoured her video resonated with so many people, and posted follow up analysis where she reflected she “didn’t set an intention for the night” and realised “meeting people and enjoying your own company are two conflicting ideas.”

“I could have started conversations with people,” Angelica said. “The opportunity presented itself but I was too nervous and I felt too embarrassed being out by myself to talk to other people. I just thought people were going to come up to me and start conversation… but I also could have just sat at the cute little bar I went to and had my cocktail by myself and enjoyed my own company.”

The second thing Angelica pointed out is that if you want to take yourself out on a date you need to “do the things I would expect a date to do for me – making reservations, having a back up plan. When I go out I’m there to enjoy my own company so if I happen to meet people and I happen to have conversations I then get to decide if I spend time with them.”

This idea of getting off dating apps and going on solo adventures to meet people is an attractive proposition to many single people. But because it is an uncomfortable thing to do, many don’t do it. A survey DMARGE recently conducted with Insights Box, for instance, suggested that only a minority of people believe online apps have made dating more enjoyable (32% of men surveyed agreed with the premise, and 19% of women surveyed agreed with the premise). 

The study also showed that many of us are more comfortable using dating apps because they are convenient. The downside to this though is that – if tales like Angelica’s are anything to go by – it’s getting harder to meet people in person, as fewer people expect or intend to meet a potential date or connection when they go out.

Contrary to what many people believe, however, a lot of single people would love to be engaged with on a night out – so long as it’s in a respectful way (something we have spoken to at length about with relationship expert and advisor to The Bachelor Samantha Jayne).

This, arguably, is the big problem with single men (and single people in general, not just men) in 2022 – they’ve become too device-dependent. If this sounds like you, perhaps solo adventures are a good way to solve it.

RELATED: I Got Stood Up. It Turned Into The Best Date Of My Life

Whether or not you agree, it seems Angelica is intent on giving it a crack, telling followers: “I want to go to more than just bars” and resolving to do one intentional solo adventure a week.

She also told followers, on the topic of “why solo date?”, that she doesn’t think it’s a gender-specific experience, but “it really happens in your late 20s early 30s, with this shift of people is moving in with their partners, moving for jobs, living in new cities and not knowing anyone and it’s so much more difficult to meet people at this age than it was in your early 20s.”

She also says that it’s not even necessarily beneficial only for single people: “Also I don’t think that it’s a relationship status specific experience really, it’s a journey of self-love and independence because even when you do get in a relationship it’s so important to be doing things for yourself.”

• American Family’s ‘Greek Vacation’ Dilemma Shows Why The US Is Not Ready For Polyamory
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The post American Woman Reveals The Big Problem With Single Men In 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The highly successful and critically acclaimed film adaptation of the book of the same name, Dune hit cinemas around the world late last year. Despite the film being a rather serious sci-fi epic, Oscar Isaac, one of the film’s many stars, revealed during an interview with EW’s The Awardist podcast how much fun the cast and crew had while shooting the film.

“I loved it; we had a lot of fun. We laughed so much.”

So much so, that the actor pulled a hilarious prank onset involving Dune’s director, Denis Villeneuve. In one of the most crucial scenes in Dune, Isaac’s character, Duke Leto Atreides, is taunted by the evil Baron Harkonnen, played by Stellan Skarsgård. During this entire scene, the Duke is completely paralysed and naked.

At one point there were discussions around whether Isaac’s character should be naked; something the actor fought for as he believed it would make his character more vulnerable.

“I was like ‘no, he should be naked, man.’ This is like a Christ on the cross kind of moment”.

Therefore, Isaac had to shoot the scene entirely naked, aside from a “cock sock”; a cloth sock that male actors commonly wear over their genitalia while shooting naked scenes. And here’s where the prank comes into it: after Isaac was done shooting the rather intense scene, he slipped his modesty sock into Villeneuve’s shirt pocket as a joke.

“I did, at one point when Denis wasn’t looking… I may have left my cock sock in his pocket, just so he just had a little bit of me next to him when I left. Just a little hankercheif; just a little, musty handkerchief.”

Isaac’s last words spoken in Dune before his character (spoiler alert) dies are not only perfect for his sacrificial scene in the film but also for the hysterical parting gift he gave to Villeneuve: “Here I am, here I remain”.

• James Bond Actor Ben Whishaw ‘Unsatisfied’ With Q’s Sexuality Reveal

The post Oscar Isaac Pranked Dune Director With His Modesty Sock appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australians love a flutter and place bets on a variety of sports events, so finding the best bookmaker or betting website in Australia is going to be paramount in order to get the best return. 

In an attempt to shake up the stronghold enjoyed by the big corporate bookmakers in Australia, WinnersBet launched a new betting site in 2020. WinnersBet is a 100 percent Australian-owned, independent bookmaker based in Melbourne founded by industry titan Da He.

Da He knows the Australian betting scene inside out, thanks to years of experience working with TAB, Tom Waterhouse, Bet 365, Classicbet and PlayUp and is a member of the Victorian Bookmakers Association, so you can be assured your winnings will be paid. 

But what exactly sets WinnersBet apart from the competition? For starters, it’s ease of use. WinnersBet currently only operates through a desktop or mobile website, but navigating around is one of the easiest experiences you’ll ever come across, comfortably making it one of the best Australian betting sites around. Signing up and depositing some funds into your betting account can be done in a matter of minutes.

You’ll want to make sure you sign up too, as customers who sign in can enjoy exclusive offers which only serve to increase your winnings potential. The Australian Government prohibits any discussion about specific promotions or offers unless the client is logged in, or has an account, so we can’t discuss in full what’s on offer. But WinnersBet is able to promote its Bet Tote odds on all Australian gallops and a Protest Payout feature ensures you still get paid, even if your runner comes first but is relegated as a result of an upheld protest.

With your funds deposited, you’ll want to start placing your bets and with WinnersBet, it couldn’t be easier. 

If you’re a fan of horse racing, you’re going to love what WinnersBet offers. Markets are available for all Australian races, whether it be gallop, harness or even greyhound races, and WinnersBet even offers Best Tote odds on all gallops to ensure you really do stand a chance of making the best possible return on any bets you place. 

If international horse racing is more your thing, then once again WinnersBet has you covered, with gallop races in the UK, Ireland, France, United States of America, Sweden, Japan and New Zealand all being readily available. 

And while WinnersBet is most definitely the only place you should be making bets on horse racing, a range of other sports betting options is available too. Understandably, since the company is still relatively young, the choice isn’t the largest ever, but with AFL, NRL, soccer, tennis and boxing just some of the markets to choose from, the majority of Australian betters will be more than satisfied.

If that isn’t enough to tug on your purse strings, then you’re guaranteed to love the customer experience WinnersBet offers. Understanding that it’s still in its infancy, WinnersBet really does go above and beyond to ensure your entire betting experience is a great one. In the highly unlikely event you run into any problems while using the website or placing bets, for example, WinnersBet offers a live chat feature with agents in Australia ready to respond incredibly quickly to any questions you might have. 

No matter if you’re an occasional better or a regular, you need to sign up for a WinnersBet account today.

The post New Australian-Owned Betting Site Is Your Best Bet appeared first on DMARGE Australia.