French Open 2012 Results: 5 Things We Learned on Day 2

The French Open is through two days of play and there are plenty of compelling story lines. 

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both advanced to the second round in straight sets and look to be in good form. 

The French Open may be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world, due to the physicality it takes to win a best-of-five set match on clay. The points tend to be longer on clay due to the higher, slower bounces the ball takes on the surface. 

On Day 2, six men's matches went the distance and took five sets to decide a winner. 

On the women's side, third-seed Agnieszka Radwanska dropped only one game to Bojana Jovanovski as she cruised into the second round. 

Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka was down a set and two breaks in her match, but battled back to earn a spot in the second round. 

Day 2 saw some great clay court tennis, with strong performances from title contenders and competitive matches from players trying to make a name for themselves. 

Americans Can Have a Good Day at the French Open

There hasn't been an American winner at the French Open since Serena Williams captured the title in 2002.

The last American man to win the title was Andre Agassi, who completed a career slam at Roland Garros in 1999. 

Since those victories, Americans have found very little success on the red clay in Paris. This may be due to the fact that the USA's best players of the last decade, Andy Roddick and Serena Williams, each have play styles that are better suited for faster courts. 

This year has been different thus far, as the Americans are off to a fast start. Collectively they compiled a 12-3 record, with a handful of Americans scheduled to play their first match on Day 3. 

Much of the success that the Americans are having is on the women's side, as the ladies are an amazing 10-0. 

On Day 2, Vania King, Sloane Stephens, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lauren Davis all won in straight sets, while Christina McHale won in three sets. 

US men John Isner, Jesse Levine and Brian Baker also advanced to the second round in straight sets.

Most of the Americans will be eliminated from the draw in the next couple rounds, but the strong play thus far is encouraging for American tennis.  

Victoria Azarenka Won't Be Going Down Without a Fight

Top-seed Victoria Azarenka was down a set and 4-0 against Alberta Brianti on Day 2, but battled back to win the match and advance to the second round. 

This is the second time this year Azarenka has battled back from a desperate situation, as she did the same against Mona Barthel at Indian Wells. In that match, Azarenka was down a double-break in the third set but showed tremendous heart and rallied to win the match. 

Azarenka broke through at this year's Australian Open, where she beat Maria Sharapova in the final, to secure her first Grand Slam title. 

On Day 2, she once again dug down deep when she wasn't playing her best to secure a spot in the next round. 

Majors are not won in the first week, although any chance at winning the title can be. Azarenka proved that an opponent is going to have to play at a high level for an entire match to dispatch her at this year's French Open. 

If Azarenka hopes to leave Paris with the championship, she will need to dig down deep and pull out more close matches in the next couple of weeks. 

There is a lot at stake for Azarenka, as a win at the French Open would cement her status as the number one player in the world. 

Ryan Harrison Isn't Ready... Yet

Ryan Harrison is one of the few Americans bounced from the French Open thus far, as he lost to 11th-seed Giles Simon on Day 2.

It appeared as if Harrison was going to take total control of the match when he won the first set. He even had multiple set points in the second, but was unable to close out it out.

Harrison proved once again that he won't be easily intimidated by the bigger stages in tennis and is on the precipice of a breakthrough. 

He has the all-around game to give opponents trouble from the beginning of a match until its conclusion. 

Harrison just turned 20 years old, so he still has plenty of time to improve all of the aspects of his game. Hopefully for Harrison, the tough losses he is experiencing now will help him later on in his career.

Will Harrison break out this summer?

Maybe, but it may take a little longer than that. 

At this point, though, it appears the question is when Harrison will break through, rather than if he will. 

Brian Baker Is on the Run of His Life

Brian Baker appears to be the player everyone should be rooting for. He has been out of the game for the past six years and underwent five surgeries in that time. 

Before returning to the tour Baker took an assistant coaching job at Belmont University and his own tennis career appeared to be over.

Prior to the French Open, Baker got through the qualifying draw at Nice and managed to fight his way to the finals in the main draw. He lost the final to Nicolas Almagro but took the entire tennis world by surprise with his strong play.

On Day 2 in his first-ever match at the French Open, Baker beat Xavier Malisse in straight sets to move into the second round. 

Baker will take on Gilles Simon, who knocked off Ryan Harrison in round one. Simon will be a heavy favorite coming into the match but with the run Baker is on, anything is possible. 

John Isner Will Be a Tough out

John Isner is the only man to ever push Rafael Nadal to five sets at the French Open. He did so at last year's event, as he quickly claimed the first two sets primarily due to his booming first serve. 

He has already beaten Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic this year and may be the most dangerous player outside of the four highest-ranked men. 

On Day 2 Isner dominated Rogerio Dutra Silva in straight sets and will face Paul-Henri Mathieu in the second round. 

On the clay, Isner has more time to get himself into proper positions before hitting the ball. His serve is so big that it is almost as effective on clay as it is on the faster surfaces. 

Isner's serve alone gives him the chance to win every match he plays.

Based upon last year's match-up with Nadal and his first round match this year, it appears as if Isner feels right at home on the clay in Paris. He looks even better on days when the court plays faster due to heat. 

If Isner is able to avoid an upset in the next two rounds, he would likely face the hard-working David Ferrer in the fourth round. 

Isner's serve can overwhelm even the best returners in tennis and he will present a very big challenge to all those who face him.