Nadal could benefit from Roland Garros shockwaves

SO what was more shocking? Rafeal Nadal losing at Roland Garros or Susan Boyle getting pipped by a dance group whose name I've already forgotten in Britain's Got Talent.

AU REVOIR: Rafael Nadal, the top seed and four-time champion, waves goodbye to the 2009 French Open after his shock defeat

Both were bankers to win, nailed-on, odds-on, racing certainties and the very hottest of hot pot favourites.

But don't feel too sorry for the Majorcan muscleboy - now back in the Balearics for a few days by the swimming pool  - or the singing spinster, who returns to her cat Pebbles after a short and lets hope brief stay in that haunt of every truly aspiring celebrity, the Priory.

Boyle is set to sign a massive record deal in the weeks to come and Nadal's defeat is only a stumble on his undoubted road to greatness.

Indeed, when the scribes sit down to chronicle a career that could eclipse all others, the name Soderling will be only a footnote to his achievements past and future.

Nadal was gracious and, even a little poetic, in defeat.

"I have to accept my defeat as I accepted my victories - with calm," he said, expertly paraphrasing the words of Kipling's ‘If', which sit above the entrance of Wimbledon's centre court.

"This is not a tragedy and it had to happen one day.

"No one remembers defeats in the long run, people only remember victories."

HEADLINES: L'Equipe described Rafael Nadal's loss at Roland Garros as an 'earthquake' (L'Equipe)

French sports paper L'Equipe summed up the loss with a front-page banner headline that screamed - tremblement de terre - or earthquake.

The shock waves continue to reverberate in Paris one day later but the topography of world tennis has still barely shifted.

Indeed it could be argued the world number one will benefit in the long-term from his early exit at Roland Garros.

And you can bet he won't wear pink again in a hurry.

Nadal's style of play demands no half measures, although he might need to adapt his all-out aggressive tactics in the years to come.

Last year he came off a demanding clay court season, then played through an unbeaten grass court campaign at Queen's and then Wimbledon.

By the time he reached the US Open at Flushing Meadow - the only Slam missing from his collection - he was clearly running on empty and the demands of a debilitating schedule left nothing in the tank.

A few days by the pool, some good home cooking and Spanish sun will have only restorative good for Nadal.

And that's probably why odds on a successful Wimbledon defence have shortened this morning.

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