US Open 2012: Most Disappointing Performances in Flushing Meadows

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For the amount of great performances we have seen during the 2012 US Open at Flushing Meadows, there have been a fair share of disappointing ones.

From big names to up-and-comers, players who were expected to go deep into the tournament, or even win it all, were forced to pack their bags early.

Here are the most disappointing performances from the 2012 US Open.

Petra Kvitova

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The fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova had No. 11 seed Marion Bartoli on the ropes after dominating their first set 6-1 in their quarterfinal matchup.

Kvitova's serve was giving Bartoli fits in the first set, but she found her speed and aggression as the match went on. Bartoli took the second set 6-2, and then took complete control in the third set, winning 6-0.

Kvitova was the heavy favorite in the match. She had recently destoryed Bartoli 6-1, 6-1 in Montreal.

Bartoli later lost to Maria Sharapova in three sets during the quarterfinals.

Liam Broady

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Liam Broady came up short in his attempt to keep the US Open Men's  title in British hands. He was beaten by Canada's Filip Peliwo  6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the final.

Broady could not capitalize on the early lead, but did mange to make it pretty tough for Peliwo to take home the crown. It is not necessarily his performance that was disappointing, but rather the fact that he will enter the world of senior tennis without a grand slam singles title to his name.

It is the second disappointing, runner-up finish for Broady during his junior career. He also lost in the finals of Wimbledon 2011.

Venus and Serena Williams

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Despite winning the women's single title, Serena Williams managed to make this list.

After winning gold at the London Olympics in women's doubles, it was disappointing to see the sisters make an early exit from the US open in the third round.

The Williams sisters were seeking their 14th Grand Slam doubles title.

They lost 6-1, 6-4 to fourth-seeded Russian pair Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova. They beat Kirilenko and Petrova in the semifinals in London, but looked outmatched in their most recent matchup.

The sisters were done in by unforced errors, recording 11 as opposed to just two for Kirlenko/Petrova.

John Isner

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John Isner should start being paid for overtime. Isner is the king of marathon matches, and the 2012 US Open was no different.

Isner lost 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round. The match ended at 2:26 a.m.

Isner left all four Grand Slam tournaments this year with five-set losses, and he didn't make it past the third round at any of them.

He is able to push his opponents to the edge, but never over it. This is something he must work on if he ever plans to be mentioned among tennis' elite.

Roger Federer

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The 2012 U.S. Open was the first time since the French Open of 2004 that neither Federer nor his long-term rival Rafael Nadal has been in the semi-finals of a grand slam.

Federer was stunned by No. 6 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-6 (1), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.

Federer looked resurgent in July as he took out US Open finalist Andy Murray to win a seventh Wimbledon final, and while he was not a pushover in his loss to Berdych, it was a surprise and major disappointment. 

Could this be the beginning of the end for the world's No. 1 ranked player?

 

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