French Open 2012: Bryan Brothers on the Verge of History

It's another Grand Slam, another final for Bob and Mike Bryan, the world's No. 2 doubles team. And this time, it's back where it all started for the twins from California.

Back in 2003, the Bryan brothers won their first Grand Slam title at the French Open when they beat Paul Haarhuis and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the finals. Now, they're going for their 12th title at the majors to set the record among men's doubles teams.

To take home the title, they'll have to beat the No. 1 team of Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor, who also happen to be two of the greatest doubles players of their generation—along with the Bryans.

Mirnyi and Nestor recently took over the top spot from the Bryan brothers, but Bob and Mike beat them in their last matchup in the finals in Monte Carlo this year. And while Bob and Mike may have lost their No. 1 ranking, by no means has their level of play slipped. They entered the French Open fresh off of a tournament victory in Nice the week prior to the start of the year's second Grand Slam.

So far in 2012, they've won three titles and also made the finals of the Australian Open.

And while some of their compatriots in singles have struggled on the clay, that's been far from the case for the Bryans, as they've won 17 career titles on the dirt.

The pair owns a career Grand Slam, but the French Open is the only one of the four majors they've failed to win multiple times. Setting the record for the most men's doubles majors at the site of their first would be a fitting accomplishment.