Tennis: The Biggest Underachievers Since 2000

As with any sport, there have been and will always be those players who are touted as being the next big thing.

Unfortunately, many times, the player is not able for whatever reason to live up to the expectations placed upon them.

With the start of the 2011 US Open right around the corner and expectations being discussed as to who the big winners will be, it seemed a good time to look at 10 players who haven't quite lived up to their career expectations.

Now, with rankings like this, it's purely personal. So, there's bound to be disagreement on the selections made and input as to who should have made the list. That's the beauty of everyone being entitled to their opinions.

Great. That opens the door for discussion. So, do leave your comments and feedback.

Hope you enjoy.

Donald Young

Donald Young was highly regarded as one of the top up-and-coming tennis players who was sure to make a serious mark on the tennis world.

In just one year after turning pro, Donald Young entered the record books as the youngest person to win a Grand Slam when he won the junior title at the Australian Open. He also secured the junior doubles title that year as well. 

In 2006, Donald won the Junior National Championship and was ranked No. 1.

Unfortunately, those achievements have been the highlight of Donald's career.

Since turning pro, his highest ranking has been No. 73 (2008). He has not been able to secure any titles, and his best Grand Slam performance has been the third round of the US Open back in 2007.

It's really sad, because though his professional numbers do not support a case for his capability on the tennis court, this is a talented young man.

2011 US Open seeding: wild card

Current ranking: No. 85

Nicolas Mahut

Whenever the name Nicolas Mahut is mentioned now, there's an immediate reference to the longest match in tennis history with John Isner, but there was a Mahut before that match took place.

Prior to turning pro in 2000, Mahut was an established junior tennis player with several tournament titles. In fact, in 1999, Mahut won the US Open Junior title.

However, since turning pro, Mahut has not been able to transition his winning ways, and that just may be the reason his career is being defined by one event, which as of now, is indeed the highlight of his career.

2011 US Open seeding: unseeded

Current ranking: No. 98

Marcos Baghdatis

The underachievement of Marcos Baghdatis can be very briefly described:

He turned pro in 2003, and over the course of his career, he has only won two titles and his best showing at a Grand Slam was the Australian Open final in 2006. That same year, he reached his career-high of World No. 8.

2011 US Open seeding: unseeded

Current ranking: No. 60

Francesca Schiavone

Francesca Schiavone is a textbook case of a player who plays well, but for some reason, cannot make that transition into the winner's circle.

Since turning pro, Schiavone has won numerous singles and doubles titles. She has reached career-high rankings of No. 4 and No. 8 in singles and doubles, respectively.

She finally achieved a Grand Slam in 2010, winning the French Open.

But she is nowhere near maximizing her skill set and winning as a result.

2011 US Open seeding: No. 7

Current ranking: No. 8

Ivan Ljubicic

Ivan Ljubicic is another glaring example of a tennis player bursting at the seams with the skills necessary to rack up wins on the court, but he just cannot seem to make it happen.

Over the course of his career, he has only been able to win 10 career titles, and his best performance at a Grand Slam was the French Open semifinals back in 2006.

But, Ljubicic refuses to give up, though it is very late in his career in tennis years.

He showed the world his determination at the 2010 Indian Wells tournament. Ljubicic played the type of tennis that he is so readily equipped to play as he beat three top 10 players—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick to win it all.

And he did this at age 32.

2011 US Open seeding: No. 30

Current ranking: No. 30

David Nalbandian

Here's a name that is not too familiar unless one has been following tennis for a while.

Nalbandian bolted onto the scene shortly after turning pro. Within two years, he was in the top 50 and even reached the 2002 Wimbledon singles final, losing to Aussie Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets.

Afterwards, unfortunately his career took a downward spiral. He has had some peaks on the career graph (11 career singles titles), but his best Grand Slam performance since the 2002 final has been reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, French Open and US Open.

One highlight of those 11 titles was back in 2007 when in defeated the top three men (Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, ranked in that order) for the Madrid Masters.

2011 US Open seeding: unseeded

Current ranking: No. 77

Andy Murray

Andy Murray is a gifted tennis player. To this day, he has won 19 (one doubles included) career titles. He has also held steady-to-good rankings, currently ranked No. 4 in the world.

Those achievements are not handed over, they are earned.

However, when you are consistently ranked in the top 10, and more specifically the top five in the world, it it expected that there should be a Grand Slam title somewhere.

Will the 2011 US Open be Murray's time to shine?

2011 US Open seeding: No. 4

Current ranking: No. 4

Dinara Safina

It was pretty much inevitable that Dinara Safina would become a tennis player, as the tennis bug bit everyone in her immediate family, including big brother Marat Safin.

She has given it a good run. She has won numerous titles in both singles and doubles and actually reached career-high ranking of No. 1 back in 2009. Unfortunately, she has only one Grand Slam title—2007 US Open doubles.

Her performance on the court just hasn't matched up to the expected career of one growing up under such strong tennis tutelage and with so much talent.

2011 US Open seeding: unseeded

Current ranking: No. 98

Andy Roddick

For many years, Andy Roddick has been looked upon not only as one of the best tennis players in America, but in the world as well.

At the height of his career he was ranked No. 1, and to this point, he has secured 30 singles titles (including the US Open) and three doubles titles.

But, over the past few years, though we have seen Roddick play well, we have not seen that take-charge playing mentality that was crucial in achieving his title wins.

An excellent example is the elusive Wimbledon title.

He has reached the final three times but could not capture it. Of course, it is reasonable to consider cutting him a little slack as he was facing Roger Federer on all three occasions.

Will we see Roddick rebound at the 2011 US Open?

2011 US Open seeding: 21

Current ranking: 21

Gael Monfils

Gael Monfils was another gifted junior player (former world No. 1) whose junior game did not mature and materialize into a successful professional career in respect to his skill set. 

Monfils is one of the most physically-gifted tennis players of all time and possesses a well-balanced  game.

Gael serves well, has excellent court coverage and plays well defensively and offensively. Some have even compared his game to that of Rafael Nadal.

However, with all the talent that Monfils possesses, he maximizes it the least, especially when he has his moments of showboating.

Over the course of his career, he has only managed three career titles and his best Grand Slam performance was at the 2008 French Open where he made it to the semifinals.

That is why Gael Monfils tops the list as the biggest underachiever since 2000.

2011 US Open seeding: No. 7

Current ranking: No. 7

Don't forget to leave your comments/feedback below on the players just discussed and feel free to provide your recommendations on players who you feel should have made the list.