French Open 2013: Ranking Top Contenders at Roland Garros

The red-hot Rafael Nadal looks to win his eighth career French Open title this year at Roland Garros, and the way the Spaniard has been playing, it's going to be tough to stop him.

Nadal has 36 victories in 38 matches in 2013, including six singles titles.

Novak Djokovic, ranked No. 1 in the world and coming off his second career loss to Tomas Berdych, will try to rebound. Don't forget about Roger Federer either. The Swiss may be slowing down, but he showed at Wimbledon last year never to doubt an all-time great.

Here's a look at my top three contenders at the 2013 French Open, which begins with the first round on Sunday, May 26.

3. Roger Federer

This is the first season since 2000 that Federer has failed to win a singles title before the French Open. He is 18-6 this year after notching 12 losses in 83 matches last year. This may be the year we can finally say the 31-year-old is slowing down.

Federer is 0-2 against Nadal in 2013. That includes a hard-court match at Indian Wells and a clay-court match in Rome. He has yet to face Djokovic in 2013.

Djokovic is still the No. 1 player in the world while Nadal is on fire this year. It's hard to imagine Federer winning at Roland Garros despite his brilliance throughout the years.

2. Novak Djokovic

Djokovic has the best shot of toppling Nadal at the French Open. He hasn't been as dominant in 2013 as he was in 2011 and 2012, but he's also just recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the Davis Cup. 

In addition, Djokovic is 28-4 this year with three singles titles. He's been so impressive for the past two years that anything less than near-perfection is magnified. 

On the other hand, the recent losses to Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych are worrisome, especially with Djokovic possibly facing a master in his element in Nadal at Roland Garros.

1. Rafael Nadal

Nadal is 36-2 with six singles titles already this year. He hasn't had that many singles titles over the course of an entire season since 2010.

The 26-year-old Spaniard ranks second on the tour in service games won (percentage), is first in return games won, fifth in break points saved and ninth in break points converted, according to ATPWorldTour.com.

It's worth noting that Djokovic did beat Nadal on clay in Monaco this year, but beating Nadal at the French Open is another story.

The all-time great is seeking his eighth career French Open title this year, and I think he ends up with it when all is said and done.