French Open Tennis 2012: Bold Predictions for Top Stars

Rafael Nadal owns the clay courts of Roland Garros, but you never know what will happen at the French Open with Roger Federer and the world's No. 1 Novak Djokovic lurking. 

Can Nadal continue to ride momentum from three wins this season to his record seventh French Open title? 

Let's take a closer look at the game's three biggest stars and give some bold predictions for this year's French Open. 

Roger Federer

Federer's solemn, yet punishing groundstrokes led him to be the best player in the world during the middle of the 2000s. 

Over the last few years, he's been challenged and beaten by Nadal, and now Djokovic, to slide to No. 3 in the world rankings. 

He's clearly one of the game's best, most consistent players, but those two Goliaths stand in his way every time out. 

The Swiss 30-year-old won his only French Open in 2009 when Nadal was surprisingly trounced by Robin Söderling in the fourth round. 

With wins in Dubai over Andy Murray and Indian Wells over Nadal in the semis and John Isner in the finals, Federer has shown he isn't complacent with Nadal and Djokovic in the spotlight atop the tennis world. 

With a victory this week, it would be historic for Federer. He would have at least two or more titles in all of the Grand Slam events. He would become the first player in the Open Era to do so. 

Federer fights and claws his way to the final, but doesn't have what it takes to upend Nadal on clay. 

Novak Djokovic 

Djokovic is still the No. 1 player in the world despite losing to Nadal in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia finals last week. 

Although Rafa has dominated this event since 2005, it would come to the surprise of no one if the Djoker pulled off a victory on the red clay courts. 

He's had success against Federer and Nadal in the past, but he did lose this year's Monte Carlo final to Nadal, as well as a tournament played outdoors on clay courts. 

The ever-steady Djokovic makes it to the semifinals, but somewhat stunningly falls short of another showdown with the Spaniard to potentially Federer or Murray. 

Federer has momentum going into this tournament and he is looking to make a strong statement at Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal 

Nadal is the king of clay, having captured six of the last seven French Opens. At a ripe 25 years old, the Spaniard is in the prime of his career and is coming off a confidence-boosting, straight set win over the world's No. 1 Djokovic at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia this past weekend. 

This year's French Open is especially important to Nadal because he has the chance to pass tennis legend Bjorn Borg who is the only other player with six titles at Roland Garros.

Nadal always plays his best and is extremely focused during French Open week, but expect his level of aggression and intensity to be elevated during what could become a historic week for him. 

He's undoubtedly the favorite to win this week, and he should be.

Söderling is the only man to beat Nadal in a best-of-five on clay and he's not participating this year. 

Rafa will cruise to the finals in convincing fashion and capture his record-setting seventh French Open title and his 11th career Grand Slam title.  

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