Thiem is the best player in the world currently

aman92

Legend
I think on his current level he is probably the best hard court player and the 2nd best clay court player. And although he has the tendency to choke somewhat in big points, largely when he is on song Djokodal can't stay with him on hard courts. At 27 he is at his absolute physical peak and with Djokovic declining, Nadal largely focussing on slams and the nextgen still finding their feet in the slams, big chance for Thiem to become No 1 next year.
 

Wander

Hall of Fame
Wait. I thought Rublev was the best hard court player at the moment. What? Wow.
I don't know who you've been listening to, but no-one I know read that much into him winning a couple of 500s. He only had to beat one top player during that entire run (ironically Thiem who was not at 100%).
 
I don't know who you've been listening to, but no-one I know read that much into him winning a couple of 500s. He only had to beat one top player during that entire run (ironically Thiem who was not at 100%).
Yes, but for that very brief period of 2 weeks Rublev was the most in form player in the world. My point is that if Thiem can be the most in form player for a couple months, while impressive, doesn't mean he is going to win several slams (much less several slams where the favorite player isn't disqualified by hitting a line judge in the throat).
 

Wander

Hall of Fame
Yes, but for that very brief period of 2 weeks Rublev was the most in form player in the world. My point is that if Thiem can be the most in form player for a couple months, while impressive, doesn't mean he is going to win several slams (much less several slams where the favorite player isn't disqualified by hitting a line judge in the throat).
Doesn't mean that, but this is his time if ever. If he doesn't win an another Major in 2021 it will have been a hugely disappointing year for Thiem.
 

octogon

Hall of Fame
No.

He squeaked past Zverev at the US Open, and barely beat Nadal + Djokovic in a 3 set Round Robin format (he can never beat the both of them in a tournament over 5 sets).

To me, you need to do a lot more than that to be considered "currently the best player in the world".

The guy is ranked correctly. He is #3. On a good day, he can beat anyone, including the two guys ranked above him. But he needs to do a lot more than what he has to claim to be the best.
 

Wander

Hall of Fame
No.

He squeaked past Zverev at the US Open, and barely beat Nadal + Djokovic in a 3 set Round Robin format.

To me, you need to do a lot more than that to be considered "currently the best player in the world".

The guy is ranked correctly. He is #3. On a good day, he can beat anyone, including the two guys ranked above him. But he needs to do a lot more than what he has to claim to br the best.
I agree in the sense that he probably needs to both win this tournament and at least make the AO final to make the claim legitimate.
 

Lew II

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic holds the title of two Slams and is #1.

Thiem deserves to be #2 though, which is something since no one other than Big4 was top2 in the last 15 years.
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
Many have jumped to #3 and none have entered the top 2 in what...a decade now? I'm definitely up for it, but I'm waiting for it to actually happen.
 

aman92

Legend
Many have jumped to #3 and none have entered the top 2 in what...a decade now? I'm definitely up for it, but I'm waiting for it to actually happen.
But no one has been in a better position than Thiem in that time.. He is at his tennis peak while big 3 are on their last legs and the next gen yet to hit their peaks. If he doesn't reach at least #2 next year, it would be a crushing disappointment for him.
 

Wander

Hall of Fame
Thiem ought to become the next new #1. If not him, then Medvedev but a lot will be at stake during the first half of next year when rankings (presumably) start to normalize.
 
D

Deleted member 771911

Guest
I checked the rankings and it says he's no.3.
Also, in the slams Nadal beat Djokovic in the last final and bageled him in the first.
I think Thiem beat...who was it...Zverev?
 

Towny

Hall of Fame
Djokovic is quite clearly the second best player on clay this year. He won the only clay masters (Thiem has yet to win any masters on clay at all) and made the RG final. Thiem didn't play Rome but lost in the QF of RG and even lost in the QF of Rio as well.

Djokovic has had the better year on hard courts so far, having won the AO, the ATP cup, (sort of) Cincinnati and Dubai. If Thiem wins the ATP Finals, he'll have an argument, given he made the final of both hard court slams this year.

If we're purely talking about current level, however, I would wait to see who wins tomorrow before making a judgement.
 

UnderratedSlam

G.O.A.T.
Currently?

You mean this week?

He might be. If he takes the title.

Two weeks ago it was Medvedev.

Every week a potentially different best player. Or player-of-the-week.

Recency bias thread.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Thiem's got a little work to do yet, but there appears to be a realistic opportunity to earn #1 in 2021 - at some point, or at YE. Blocking Novak from getting 400 or 900 more points, and getting at least that many himself (to say nothing of bouncing back from 0-4 down in the third set breaker) was a big step
 
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