French Open 2012: 5 Players Most Likely to Excel in Jam-Packed Olympic Summer

The second Grand Slam of the season, the French Open, is nearly here and things are going to get a lot busier after these next two weeks.

Arguably, the game's most prestigious tournament, Wimbledon, starts a few weeks after the conclusion of the French. Soon after, comes the 2012 Summer Olympics, which will also be held at the All England Club.

That's a lot of major tournaments concentrated in essentially a two-month span.

While it will be a grind, there are some players who could essentially be considered locks to succeed at all three events. Here's a look at five of them.

Rafael Nadal

Best French Open Result: Champion (2005-09, 2010-11)

Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2008, '10)

Best Olympic Result: Champion (2008)

Rafael Nadal has made Roland Garros his personal playground over the years. He's also shown that the transition from clay to grass doesn't affect him much, as a two-time Wimbledon winner and three-time finalist. The defending Olympic gold medalist should be considered a contender for all three titles.

Serena Williams

Best French Open Result: Champion (2002)

Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2002-03, 2009-10)

Best Olympic Result: Quarterfinals (2008)

It could be considered a shock that Serena Williams, one of the greatest players of her generation, has never won an Olympic medal in singles play. She is a two-time Gold medalist in doubles with big sister, Venus. Williams is poised for deep runs at the French Open and Wimbledon as she's been dominant on clay in 2012 and has always found success on the grass.

Roger Federer

Best French Open Result: Champion (2009)

Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2003-07, 2009)

Best Olympic Result: Quarterfinals (2008)

Roger Federer has been preparing for this year since he fell to American James Blake in the quarterfinals at the 2008 event. Now, the Games are being held at one of his favorite venues. One of the greatest ever to play the game, Federer is always in peak mode for the majors, as his record demonstrates. This could be his time to break back into the winners circle at the premier events.

Novak Djokovic

Best French Open Result: Semifinals (2007-08, 2011)

Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2011)

Best Olympic Result: Bronze Medalist (2008)

Novak Djokovic has been playing some of the best tennis on the planet the past year and a half. His priorities this year are to fill the two holes on his resume—the French Open and the Olympics. He's proven he can play on all surfaces, and a two-week stretch on clay followed by nearly a month on the grass shouldn't deter him.

Maria Sharapova

Best French Open Result: Semifinals (2007, 2011)

Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2004)

Best Olympic Result: N/A

Maria Sharapova will be eager to make up for lost time as far as the Olympics are concerned, having never been in the field due to injury at the Beijing Games in 2008. The clay, which once was considered her worst surface, now feels like a second home to her, even though she has a tough draw at the French Open—she could face Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. She's always done well on the grass, and the opportunity to play two major events in London on the lawns should motivate her to success.