French Open 2012: Why Roger Federer Won't Win

Roger Federer has won a record 16 Grand Slam titles, but has not found himself atop the podium at a major championship since the 2010 Australian Open. This year at the French Open, traditionally Federer's worst of the Grand Slam tournaments, he won't be able to capture No. 17.

At the Madrid Open during the first week of May, Federer took home the title with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over Tomas Berdych. He was able to win on Madrid's controversial blue clay. But since that time, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and clay-court master Rafael Nadal have both bounced back and looked much better.

At last week's Italian Open, Nadal steamrolled the field, as he didn't lose a set and smoked Djokovic 7-5, 6-3 in the final. Nadal is currently the world's No. 2 player and looks like he's back in form as the tour heads to Roland Garros. 

Meanwhile, Federer dropped his semifinal match to Djokovic 2-6, 6-7 (4) on clay at the Italian Open.

Nadal has a ridiculous career record of 45-1 at the French Open and if he were able to capture a title this year, he would break a tie with Bjorn Borg, and have his all-time best seventh championship. I just can't see Federer, or anyone else, standing in the Spaniard's way this year.

Though Federer hasn't won a Grand Slam title since January of 2010, he is still a threat to win every tournament he enters. That said, I just don't have a good feeling about his chances at the French Open this year. He won the title back in 2009, the only time he has done so, and he didn't have to face Nadal in that draw.

Nadal is the world's best clay-court player and at the Italian Open he looked as good as he has on any surface since he won the title in Paris last year. This year will be no different, and there is nothing Federer or anyone else in the field will be able to do about it.