French Open 2012 TV Schedule: Top Stars Will March Forward on Monday

Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova have plenty in common as tennis cohorts, particularly at the 2012 French Open, where they'll be in action on Monday.

Both came in to Roland Garros as the second-ranked players in the world. Nadal stands behind only Novak Djokovic on the men's side and Sharapova is within earshot of 22-year-old Victoria Azarenka, whose stay atop the standings was bolstered by her first win in a Grand Slam event at the 2012 Australian Open.

Both are also looking to make history in Paris this week. Here's a look at the remaining French Open Schedule. 

Rafa has already solidified himself as the greatest clay-court champion in tennis history in the minds of many, but will officially overtake Bjorn Borg in the record books with another French Open title this weekend. Such a win would mark the seventh of Nadal's career, with plenty of top-flight tennis left to be played, assuming the newly minted 26-year-old's body holds up.

Sharapova, meanwhile, isn't looking to be the first so much as the next, as in the next woman to complete the career Grand Slam. The Russian bombshell hasn't won a Grand Slam tournament since the 2008 Australian Open, but has twice reached the semifinals at Roland Garros. Last year, she was knocked out by Li Na, who faces Yaroslava Shvedova on Monday.

A weekend win for Sharapova would make her just the 10th person in the history of women's tennis to claim a career Grand Slam and the first since Serena Williams came full circle at the 2003 Australian Open. That would also put Sharapova in the same conversation as such illustrious names as Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Steffi Graf.

As far as Monday is concerned, both superstars should be able to move one step closer to history without too much trouble.

Rafa will take on Juan Monaco, who he's beaten three times in four career meetings, in the fourth match at Suzanne Lenglen. Meanwhile, Sharapova will await Klara Zakopalova, who's never been ranked higher than 96th in the world, in the third match at Philippe Chatrier.

In both cases, history hardly assures victory, though defeat would portend disappointment over opportunities missed.

Not that Nadal or Sharapova are likely to lose. Rather, history is something to be made rather than handed over.

Both know this as well as anyone on their respective sides of the tennis world.

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