French Open 2012 Results: Most Memorable Moments from the Opening Matches

The first week of the French Open has brought plenty of drama.

We had a stunning upset of a perennial Grand Slam favorite, a marathon tiebreaker, a potentially serious injury to one of the top players in the world and a newcomer to the Round of 16.

Before we get too enthralled with the second week’s play at Roland Garros, let’s recap the memorable moments from the opening matches of the 2012 French Open. 

Serena Williams Ousted In the First Round

I don’t know what's a bigger story: Serena Williams losing at the French Open or that she lost for the first time in her career in an opening-round match of a Grand Slam tournament.

Coming into Roland Garros, Williams had an undefeated record on clay this year at 17-0 and her first-round opponent seemed to be perfect.

Virginie Razzano was ranked No. 111 in the world and was hanging tough with Williams in the first set. Serena seemed to be pulling away from her in the second set (5-1) before the rug was taken out from underneath her.

She went on to lose 22 of the next 24 points, as Williams could never wrestle the momentum away from Razzano. 

Isner’s Marathon Tiebreaker

In the offseason, fans complained that tennis needed to implement a tiebreaker for the final set of a match.

You cannot expect an audience to be captivated with a match that could last over three days, much like John Isner’s 2010 Wimbledon victory over Nicholas Mahut that lasted over 11 hours.

Well, the American was at it again, as Isner played another marathon tennis match. Thankfully, it took only five hours and 41 minutes before Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated him 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 18-16. The final set took two hours and 28 minutes to complete.

It takes a great deal of stamina and concentration to compete for that length of time, as it seems like you’re playing forever with no end in sight.

Andy Murray’s Mysterious Back Injury

At certain points of Andy Murray’s first-round match, you expected him to withdraw due to injury. He grimaced, often clutching the small of his back, as Murray gutted through an unlikely victory.

No one can predict how far he can go in the French Open until we get a full diagnosis of his back injury. Is it a spasm that will pass in a couple days or major structural damage that could require season-ending surgery?

Better players will take full advantage of Murray’s incapability of defending the end line or gaining any zip on his serves.

David Goffin Advances…Who?

In one of the more remarkable stories in sports, David Goffin advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Lukasz Kubot 7-6, 7-5, 6-1. The 21-year-old Belgian only gained a spot in the French Open after another player’s sudden withdrawal.

Goffin took full advantage of his opportunity to compete on the big stage, as he began the second week's play against Roger Federer.

Goffin needed to play near-perfect tennis in order to advance and just couldn't sustain early momentum before losing in four sets 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. 

American Men’s Tennis Is on Life Support

American men’s tennis is at an all-time low, as only one player (Mardy Fish) is currently ranked in the top 10. In the history of the sport, there hasn't been such dearth of talent coming out of our country. 

American tennis fans have been anxiously waiting for the next star to emerge from the junior ranks, but none have distinguish themselves just yet.

The sport is currently dominated by three players (Novak Djokovic, Rafeal Nadal and Roger Federer), who have won 27 of the last 28 Grand Slams.

Unless an American comes out of the shadows, this dominance will continue for a long time.