Youzhny began the 2011 season at the Australian Open where he reached the third round, losing to Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic in four sets.
He made his next appearance at the 2011 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, but failed in protecting his points from the previous year, and lost to world number four Robin Söderling.
He responded to his early loss with a semifinal showing at the Open 13 in Marseille, France, and lost to world number twenty-eight Marin Čilić.
At the Dubai Tennis Championships he again failed to defend his ranking points, and recorded his first loss to Gilles Simon.
In doubles, he and Sergiy Stakhovsky went on to defeat Feliciano López and Jérémy Chardy in the final to win their second title as a team and Youzhny's eighth career doubles title.
From his defeat by Simon in Dubai to the French Open, with the exception of one third round defeat, he lost either in the first or second round.
Youzhny was seeded 12th at the French Open, and lost in the third round to world number thirty-eight Albert Montañés, a Spanish clay-court specialist, in straight sets.
At Wimbledon Youzhny, seeded 18th, reached the fourth round where he was defeated by world number three Roger Federer in four sets.
Between Wimbledon and the US Open, Youzhny reached two semifinals.
At the first, at the International German Open in Hamburg, he lost to Gilles Simon, and at the second, the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad in Switzerland, he lost to world number forty-five Marcel Granollers.
Youzhny was seeded 16th at the US Open, but lost in the first round to world number fifty-three Ernests Gulbis in the first round.
His early upset at the US Open saw him slip from world number fifteen to world number thirty-two.
Despite being the defending champion of the Proton Malaysian Open Youzhny decided not to participate.
His first post-US Open tournament was the China Open in Beijing, where he reached the quarterfinals, but lost to world number twenty-six Ivan Ljubičić.
He reached his last semifinal of the season at the St. Petersburg Open, losing to world number twenty-two Marin Čilić, the eventual champion.
Youzhny ended the season with a 27–23 win-loss record, and with an end-of-year rank of 35 in the world.

The 2012 season began at the Qatar Open in Doha, where he reached the quarterfinals before falling to world number two Rafael Nadal.
From there, it was on to the Australian Open, where he fell to qualifier Andrey Golubev in the first round.
At his next tournament, the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in Croatia, Youzhny defeated Lukáš Lacko, the world number ninety-six, in the singles final and claimed the eighth singles title of his career.
He also won the doubles title with Marcos Baghdatis, defeating Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram in the semifinal and Mate Pavic/Ivan Dodig in the final.
This is his 9th doubles title and the last title so far.
He reached the quarterfinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February, but lost in to Roger Federer.
In his last quarterfinals appearance before the French Open, he was defeated by Marin Čilić at the BMW Open in Munich.
Youzhny was seeded 27th at the French Open, and lost in the third round to world number six David Ferrer.
The match is notable for Youzhny apologizing to the crowd about his performance by writing "SORRI" in the clay.
His grass season began with a semifinals showing at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, losing to Roger Federer.
At Wimbledon, Youzhny, seeded 26th, won his fourth round match for the first time on seven attempts to reach the quarterfinals.
On his way to the quarterfinals he defeated world number nine Janko Tipsarević, and he required five sets to beat world number thirty-nine Denis Istomin in his fourth round.
He lost to Roger Federer, the eventual champion.
After this tournament, Youzhny became the third Russian male player to enter the quarterfinals of all four major events.
Youzhny represented Russia at the Summer Olympics, the last grass court tournament of the year.
In men's singles event, he lost in the first round to world number thirty-two Julien Benneteau.
In the
Youzhny began the 2011 season at the Australian Open where he reached the third round, losing to Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic in four sets. He made his next appearance at the 2011 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, but failed in protecting his points from the previous year, and lost to world number four Robin Söderling. He responded to his early loss with a semifinal showing at the Open 13 in Marseille, France, and lost to world number twenty-eight Marin Čilić. At the Dubai Tennis Championships he again failed to defend his ranking points, and recorded his first loss to Gilles Simon. In doubles, he and Sergiy Stakhovsky went on to defeat Feliciano López and Jérémy Chardy in the final to win their second title as a team and Youzhny's eighth career doubles title. From his defeat by Simon in Dubai to the French Open, with the exception of one third round defeat, he lost either in the first or second round. Youzhny was seeded 12th at the French Open, and lost in the third round to world number thirty-eight Albert Montañés, a Spanish clay-court specialist, in straight sets. At Wimbledon Youzhny, seeded 18th, reached the fourth round where he was defeated by world number three Roger Federer in four sets. Between Wimbledon and the US Open, Youzhny reached two semifinals. At the first, at the International German Open in Hamburg, he lost to Gilles Simon, and at the second, the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad in Switzerland, he lost to world number forty-five Marcel Granollers. Youzhny was seeded 16th at the US Open, but lost in the first round to world number fifty-three Ernests Gulbis in the first round. His early upset at the US Open saw him slip from world number fifteen to world number thirty-two. Despite being the defending champion of the Proton Malaysian Open Youzhny decided not to participate. His first post-US Open tournament was the China Open in Beijing, where he reached the quarterfinals, but lost to world number twenty-six Ivan Ljubičić. He reached his last semifinal of the season at the St. Petersburg Open, losing to world number twenty-two Marin Čilić, the eventual champion. Youzhny ended the season with a 27–23 win-loss record, and with an end-of-year rank of 35 in the world.
The 2012 season began at the Qatar Open in Doha, where he reached the quarterfinals before falling to world number two Rafael Nadal. From there, it was on to the Australian Open, where he fell to qualifier Andrey Golubev in the first round. At his next tournament, the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in Croatia, Youzhny defeated Lukáš Lacko, the world number ninety-six, in the singles final and claimed the eighth singles title of his career. He also won the doubles title with Marcos Baghdatis, defeating Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram in the semifinal and Mate Pavic/Ivan Dodig in the final. This is his 9th doubles title and the last title so far. He reached the quarterfinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February, but lost in to Roger Federer. In his last quarterfinals appearance before the French Open, he was defeated by Marin Čilić at the BMW Open in Munich. Youzhny was seeded 27th at the French Open, and lost in the third round to world number six David Ferrer. The match is notable for Youzhny apologizing to the crowd about his performance by writing "SORRI" in the clay. His grass season began with a semifinals showing at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, losing to Roger Federer. At Wimbledon, Youzhny, seeded 26th, won his fourth round match for the first time on seven attempts to reach the quarterfinals. On his way to the quarterfinals he defeated world number nine Janko Tipsarević, and he required five sets to beat world number thirty-nine Denis Istomin in his fourth round. He lost to Roger Federer, the eventual champion. After this tournament, Youzhny became the third Russian male player to enter the quarterfinals of all four major events. Youzhny represented Russia at the Summer Olympics, the last grass court tournament of the year. In men's singles event, he lost in the first round to world number thirty-two Julien Benneteau. In the
Mikhail Youzhny