French Open 2012 Results: 5 Key Storylines to Watch Moving Forward

By (Featured Columnist) on May 31, 2012

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The French Open 2012 has been exciting to say the least. Through just four full days of action, Roland Garros is already having one of the best Grand Slams in the past couple of years.

Huge upsets and close calls have the crowd at Paris on its toes, and the fans at home can't get enough of the action either.

With all of this excitement in the air, it's hard to keep track of it all, but among the action for the next week and a half, these are the biggest storylines to follow.

Veterans Sent Packing

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The 2012 French Open has been an unforgiving Grand Slam for veterans. The young guns are moving up while the old timers keep falling down.

Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian all fell to younger opponents in the first round, and the men's side does not have many veterans left.

On the women's side, the biggest upset of the tournament occurred when No. 5 Serena Williams fell to unranked Virginie Razzano in three sets, sending the 30-year-old packing. This was the first time Serena has lost in the first round of a Grand Slam in her career.

Veterans have been struggling, and if this keeps up, Roger Federer could be gone before you know it.

Can Victoria Azarenka Rebound?

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Dan Istitene/Getty Images

The No. 1 women's seed in the world struggled in her first round match against Alberta Brianti, falling behind 0-4 before dropping the first set in  tiebreaker.

While the top seed did win the next two sets 6-4, 6-2, she struggled in a match that should have just been a formality.

Be sure to keep an eye on Azarenka because during this crazy year she could very well flop early. The question on all of our minds is how she will play in her upcoming matches.

Who Will Be the Next Star to Fall?

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Serena Williams was the first star to fall in the 2012 French Open, losing to Virginie Razzano in three sets. This was the biggest upset of her career, and after a wacky first four days, it leaves us pondering the question: Who will be the next star to be sent home?

I've already listed two candidates in Roger Federer and Victoria Azarenka because veterans have struggled and the No. 1 woman's seed stumbled out of the gate. However, there are many more options.

We could see one of the top men's players outside of the Big Three go down, or we could see yet another woman's star fall.

We don't know when it will come, nor who it will be, but we do know that a star is going to fall very soon.

Novak Djokovic Looks to Continue Dominance in Grand Slams

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic has been on fire, and the world's No. 1 player is aiming for his fourth Grand Slam in a row.

The Djoker has never won it all at Roland Garros, but he has made it to the semifinals three times, including last year.

Djokovic looks to win all four Grand Slams, and in order to do so he will have to win the French Open. This may be his best shot because he is on such a roll, but recent losses to Rafael Nadal could set him back on this quest.

Rafael Nadal Looks to Pass Bjorn Borg

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal is looking to pass Bjorn Borg for the record for French Open titles this year.

Borg and Nadal are both tied with six. Nadal has won his six during a seven-year-span, while Borg won his in eight years. Nadal looks to add on to this record, and he will surely do so at some point during his career, with the only question being when.

Nadal is next to unstoppable on clay, and after back-to-back wins against the world's No. 1 Novak Djokovic on clay, it looks like he will break the record this year.

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