Petra Kvitová came into 2012 as a strong contender. She began the year by winning the Hopman Cup with Tomáš Berdych over France's Marion Bartoli and Richard Gasquet. At the Australian Open, she reached the semifinals, losing to Maria Sharapova, 2–6, 6–3, 4–6. At Wimbledon as the defending champion, she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, 3–6, 5–7. She then claimed her first title of the year at the Rogers Cup, defeating Li Na, 7–5, 2–6, 6–3, in the final. She claimed the US Open Series top spot, after winning the New Haven Open at Yale, defeating Russian Maria Kirilenko, 7–6(11–9), 7–5. At the US Open, she was upset by Marion Bartoli in the fourth round, 6–1, 2–6, 0–6.