Nadal eliminated, Serena return to form on day 11 of Roland Garros

Defending champion Nadal was out after a disappointing match on day 11 of Roland Garros, leaving Djokovic, Murray, Tsonga and Wawrinka in the running, but he could look for a career in philisophy. Serena Williams gets her mojo back and explains that pressure is a privilege. 

Rafael Nadal says goodbye to Roland Garros after losing to Novak Djokovic. Reuters

There will be a new inscription on la Coupe des Mousquetaires

With the elimination of the men’s defending champion Rafael Nadal on day 11, it means there’ll be a new name on the trophy this year. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Stan Wawrinka are in the running. 

Don’t believe the hype 

The quarter-final showdown between the top seed Novak Djokovic and the defending champion Rafael Nadal was expected to be the match of the tournament. The daily review preferred clash of the century. But it wasn’t anything like that. Djokovic was all over Nadal and it was all over in straight sets. 

The king is dead, long live the king 

So farewell then Rafael, king of the clay courts here for many a year – the last five to be precise. (And four between 2005 and 2008). You were a worthy lord of the terrains. The review thinks Nadal has a potential career lined up as a philosopher. Asked if he was disappointed about not being able to clasp the trophy for a 10th time, the 29-year-old was upbeat in defeat. “I don't know if I’m going to win 10 but nine I have already won. The only thing that is sure is I won nine times.” Clinical, just like his forehand used to be. 

Perspective comes in many forms 

The Swiss 23rd seed Timea Bacsinszky veered off the circuit for a while to do a hotel management course. The 25-year-old is happy to admit time away from the tour has furnished her with a different Weltanschauung. We thought we’d throw that in because before the review took up journalism, yes, we really have taken it up, we studied German. Sorry, we digress. Bacsinszky says the time labouring in hotels has helped her to realise that a lot of effort goes in to making life easier for others. “There are many people in this world who are working in restaurants, hotels, in the kitchen, who are, like, making our beds in hotels, as well,” she said. “Maybe when you're a tennis player and you have everything around you which is already given to you, then you don't see all the people who are working for you. I don't know - to, like, clean rooms or to make a nice breakfast.” When Bacsinszky next mentions service economy, she really might not be talking about a shorter swing before hitting the ball. 

How to become a big noise on the tour and stay loud

Day 11 provided us with an insight into how the great get greater and the good get better. Top seed Serena Williams – winner of 19 grand slam singles titles - has been spectacularly awful in three matches at this year’s tournament. She came from a set down in the second round against the unseeded German Anna-Lena Friedsam, the 27th seed Viktoria Azarenka in the third round and the unseeded American Sloane Stephens in the last 16. In her quarter-final on day 11, it appeared the real Ms Williams had showed up at the tournament rather than the lumpen doppelganger – see, those German studies are really paying off – that had bemused us for the best part of a week. She was firing winners from all parts of the court. The Italian 17th seed Sara Errani couldn’t cope. It was 63 61 to Williams in 66 minutes. And for her next match? Timea Bacsinszky. Williams will be the lava hot favourite. But wait awhile. What is it like to go onto court knowing that if you win, there’s only a murmur but, should you lose, there is a gale of noise? “It's not so easy,” conceded Williams. “Some days are better than others. Some days the pressure gets to you.” 

Her coping mechanisms come from sessions from her days as a rising youth. She spent time with Billie Jean King – winner of 39 grand slam crowns, including 12 singles, 16 women's doubles and 11 mixed doubles titles. Williams confided: “I've said this a number of times that Billie Jean King said, ‘Pressure is a privilege’. I'm in a position of privilege to be able to feel that pressure.” Bet they don’t teach them that on hotel management courses.