French Open 2012 Bracket: Bold Predictions for Day 1 Action

The first round of the 2012 French Open gets underway Sunday on the legendary clay courts at Roland-Garros, and stars such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams will attempt to add another Grand Slam singles title to their resumes.

The early rounds of the tournament (especially on the men's side of the draw) will probably play out mostly according to script, but that doesn't mean there won't be a surprise or two along the way.

So, while we sit back and wait for the seeming inevitability of a Djokovic versus Nadal men's final, here are a couple of bold predictions for the first day of action at Roland-Garros.

The Elder Williams Sister Will Make a Quick Exit

While younger sister Serena has a Coupe des Mousquetaires to her credit, having won the French Open in 2002, a French Open title has eluded 32-year-old Venus Williams. The closest that Williams, who hasn't won a Grand Slam singles title since 2008, came was in 2002, when she was beaten in straight sets by her sister.

Venus did, however, advance as far as the semifinals every year from 2007-2010, before missing last year's event after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue.

Sister Serena told the Associated Press (via the Salt Lake Tribune) that Venus' return to competitive tennis in March is "inspiring" to her, but it's Venus who may need inspiration on Sunday. The slow-playing surface at the French Open is considered the most physically demanding of all the Grand Slam events.

That playing surface, coupled with Williams' long layoff and the possibility of fatigue setting in, leave the seven-time Grand Slam champion ripe for an early upset. And that is exactly what will happen when Williams falls in three sets to Paula Ormaechea, a little-known 19-year-old from Argentina playing in the French Open for the first time.

Andy Roddick Will Continue an Ugly Day in Paris for the Americans

American tennis is in a pretty sad state. This is evidenced by the fact that many casual fans in the United States would probably mention Andy Roddick as one of the top players in the sport, even though he's ranked well outside the top 20 in the world and hasn't really been relevant in tennis for several years.

The 29-year-old has played sparingly over the past few months due to a hip injury. In his most recent action earlier this week, Roddick was hammered in straight sets at a World Team Cup event in Germany, falling to Tomas Berdych 6-1, 6-2.

That, combined with the fact that Roddick has never made it past the fourth round at Roland Garros, doesn't exactly make this the boldest of predictions, but Roddick will be one and done in Paris.

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut will have the crowd squarely in his corner, and he will dispatch Roddick in a grueling four-set contest. And stamina should be no issue for the 30-year-old Mahut, who only two years ago was one of the participants in the longest match in tennis history.