• French Open, Day Four: Plays of the Day

Time for toilet tactics as Federer face is foiled

Roger Federer found something to smile about on court © Getty Images

Enlarge

No crumb of comfort for Watson

Players are allowed to leave the court for comfort breaks, but it could be argued that it is being utilised as a tactic. That appeared to be the case in Heather Watson's defeat to Stefanie Voegele. After losing the second set, Voegele departed the stage and was gone for so long that it appeared her satnav had sent her towards the centre of Paris. As commentator Joe Durie said in commentary, in 15 years on tour she was never once that desperate for the loo that she needed to go off court. Upon the resumption, Voegele broke serve and it proved the pivotal moment as she wrapped up the win

Serving against a brick wall

Victoria Azarenka knows Elena Vesnina's game extremely well as the pair used to be doubles partners. It would appear that knowledge played to Azarenka's strengths in her 6-1 6-4 win, particularly in the first set. Vesnina served at an impressive 95% in the first set, but it did little to aid her cause as Azarenka broke on two occasions in a stanza that lasted 32 minutes.

A splinter in the works

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ultimately ran out a comfortable straight-sets winner over Jarkko Nieminen, but for much of the first set the No. 6 seed looked well out of sorts. He was seen repeatedly inspecting his finger and on occasions gnawing at it. And a TV camera close up appeared to show that a splinter was the cause of problem. Tsonga's quick-fix surgery appeared to do the trick as he coasted through the second and third sets.

Monfils keeps busy during break

The crowds at the French Open certainly know how to express themselves, so when their very own Gael Monfils was outclassing Ernests Gulbis on court, the watching audience set off on a Mexican wave - which was so good even Monfils found the time to film it on his phone during the changeover. Sergiy Stakhovsky began the trend with the mobile, now Monfils has followed. Who will be next?

Federer finds something to smile about

If Roger Federer was a poker player he would sweep all before him on the table. The Swiss has the ability to keep his cool under pressure, and it is extremely difficult to read his thoughts as he very rarely gives clues through facial expressions.

However, the great man did break into a smile in his encounter against Somdev Devvarman. A very loud call from one of the line judges was heard by all on Court Suzanne Lenglen and probably on the other courts. Still, the slight break in concentration from Federer did nothing to help Devvarman win the game.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.