2018 Madrid SF - [5] Dominic Thiem vs [6] Kevin Anderson

[Steve0904]

I am sure there are better things to do in Madrid at 9pm than watch Zed vs Shaps.

Crappy schedule.

There probably are better things to do, but what were you expecting? Z vs Shapo is the more enticing night time match up over Thiem vs Anderson IMO.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Thiem's one of those guys you like when he's winning and don't like when he's losing.

I like him right now anyway.

 

[Mainad]

That is if you consider Thiem part of the NextGen. He is 4 years older than Zverev and 6 years olders than Shapo.

He is close in age to Raonic and Dimitrov than he is to Zverev and Shapo.

Maybe first LostGen champion then if he wins tomorrow?

 

[mellowyellow]

Thiem's one of those guys you like when he's winning and don't like when he's losing.

I like him right now anyway.

It just pi sses me off to rage when you see the talent he has be wasted in some of his sorry losses... He should be contending week in and out most of the time.

 

[mike danny]

Maybe first LostGen champion then if he wins tomorrow?

Of Madrid sure

Of masters titles: Dimitrov holds that honor.

 

[Mainad]

Of Madrid sure

Of masters titles: Dimitrov holds that honor.

Where does Sock fit in?

 

[mike danny]

Where does Sock fit in?

Fluke

 

[Mainad]

Fluke

Now now, be nice to your fellow countryman. If he's a 'fluker' then he was better at it than anybody else at that tournament!

 

[mike danny]

Now now, be nice to your fellow countryman. If he's a 'fluker' then he was better at it than anybody else at that tournament!

True

He is not my fellow countryman though. My fellow country(wo)man is Halep

 

[Legend of Borg]

this is great and all but is he gonna go back to mediocrity in a month when the clay wraps up?

can he start to be an all-court threat instead of showing up for a few weeks every year on the dirt?

 

[RF-18]

this is great and all but is he gonna go back to mediocrity in a month when the clay wraps up?

can he start to be an all-court threat instead of showing up for a few weeks every year on the dirt?

That's the breakthrough people are waiting for. He can definitely do it.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

It just pi sses me off to rage when you see the talent he has be wasted in some of his sorry losses... He should be contending week in and out most of the time.

I expected big things from him this this clay season. He seems smarter than most players and I thought he would build on what he accomplished last year. The injury didn't help I guess.

 

[Thundergod]

He's a joke. At least we won't have Anderson fans pumping him up on clay after this like Dimitrough post Monte Carlo SF.

Tell me you don't have Delpo highly ranked on clay.

I don't pump up anyone out of this current clay field. Thiem is the only one who beats Nadal once in a while. (though he gets trashed most of the other times)

I thought Delpo gets mentioned because he theoretically has the power required to challenge a Nadal. I didn't know if people have him as a serious contender.

 

[Meles]

I don't pump up anyone out of this current clay field. Thiem is the only one who beats Nadal once in a while. (though he gets trashed most of the other times)

I thought Delpo gets mentioned because he theoretically has the power required to challenge a Nadal. I didn't know if people have him as a serious contender.

Wise choice except for this new wave of players which have 3 of 4 SF spots in Madrid.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Thiem's one of those guys you like when he's winning and don't like when he's losing.

I like him right now anyway.

Me too, his new haircut is amazing (seriously!)

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Me too, his new haircut is amazing (seriously!)

He went from dorky to dapper.

 

[albertobra]

I think that the big news is that Thiem finally backed up his great performance vs. Rafa.
This time he entered court with right attitude, He didn't allow that the big win would empty him emotionally, so common to happen to many players after a big win and as happened to Thiem last year.

 

[Legend of Borg]

hard work pays off

who knew

 

[abmk]

It's not overboard. Guy is machine.

I think Thiem potentially could eclipse the games of peak Nadal and peak Djokovic in few years time. He is that good.

 

[RF-18]

Remember our convo few months ago? You were laughing when I said he has the game to beat anyone. And he outplayed probably a Nadal in the form of his life on clay. That should tell is what game this guy has.

I admit I may go overboard sometimes but there is just something about Thiems game that baffles me.

You gotta admit he is a heck of a player.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Remember our convo few months ago? You were laughing when I said he has the game to beat anyone. And he outplayed probably a Nadal in the form of his life on clay. That should tell is what game this guy has.

I admit I may go overboard sometimes but there is just something about Thiems game that baffles me.

You gotta admit he is a heck of a player.

Problem is that he hasn’t proven himself to be consistent, Federer and even Nadal are both consistent.

Thiem shows moments of excellence but I don’t think he can do it consistently.

 

[RF-18]

Remember our convo few months ago? You were laughing when I said he has the game to beat anyone. And he outplayed probably a Nadal in the form of his life on clay. That should tell is what game this guy has.

I admit I may go overboard sometimes but there is just something about Thiems game that baffles me.

You gotta admit he is a heck of a player.

Yes that is the issue, he also needs to sort his game out for HCs and find the right approach. If he does that he will be #1 someday.

 

[abmk]

Remember our convo few months ago? You were laughing when I said he has the game to beat anyone. And he outplayed probably a Nadal in the form of his life on clay. That should tell is what game this guy has.

I admit I may go overboard sometimes but there is just something about Thiems game that baffles me.

You gotta admit he is a heck of a player.

Nadal in the form of his life ?

Have you gone even more insane than ever ? Has Djokovic's decline got to you that much ?

Nadal played a considerably below par match. Thiem played well and capitalized.

And yes, I'll still laugh at that statement. Coz' I said it doesn't apply outside of clay and that's true.
I've always rated Thiem fine on clay.

and no, he's nowhere close to one heck of a player. My standards for one heck of a player are much higher than yours.

 

[Plamen1234]

Remember our convo few months ago? You were laughing when I said he has the game to beat anyone. And he outplayed probably a Nadal in the form of his life on clay. That should tell is what game this guy has.

I admit I may go overboard sometimes but there is just something about Thiems game that baffles me.

You gotta admit he is a heck of a player.

He needs to back up his win over Nadal in Madrid and Thiem will have this chance very soon.Rome 2018 QFs .His win in Madrid over Nadal is good but if he gets trashed in Rome and RG it wouldnt mean much.

 

[RF-18]

Nadal in the form of his life ?

Have you gone even more insane than ever ? Has Djokovic's decline got to you that much ?

Nadal played a considerably below par match. Thiem played well and capitalized.

And yes, I'll still laugh at that statement. Coz' I said it doesn't apply outside of clay and that's true.
I've always rated Thiem fine on clay.

and no, he's nowhere close to one heck of a player. My standards for one heck of a player are much higher than yours.

50 sets won in a row suggest to me he is in the form of his life on the surface (note: surface). Once or twice did one set go past 4 games.

I agree Nadal didn't play up to his standards in the match but we also have to give credit to Thiems resilience from the baseline and putting constant pressure on Nadal. Put any other player in Thiems place yesterday that nadal has faced in the clay season and nadal would win in 3 and 2.

It's not about standards but we see it differently. I rate Thiem highly.

 

[RF-18]

He needs to back up his win over Nadal in Madrid and Thiem will have this chance very soon.Rome 2018 QFs .His win in Madrid over Nadal is good but if he gets trashed in Rome and RG it wouldnt mean much.

Well he better win Madrid now. A big title could do wonders for him.

 

[abmk]

50 sets won in a row suggest to me he is in the form of his life on the surface (note: surface). Once or twice did one set go past 4 games.

no, it doesn't. It suggests pathetic CC competition + nadal playing well, not necessarily in the form of his life.

I agree Nadal didn't play up to his standards in the match but we also have to give credit to Thiems resilience from the baseline and putting constant pressure on Nadal. Put any other player in Thiems place yesterday that nadal has faced in the clay season and nadal would win in 3 and 2.

Already said Thiem played pretty well.
Lulz, with Nadal playing considerably better than yesterday, Baena was able to get 8 games off Nadal at Barcelona.
Good players would've pushed yesterday's Nadal in both sets, probably even won a set.

It's not about standards but we see it differently. I rate Thiem highly.

His game isn't top notch outside of clay. So hell yeah, it is about standards.

 

[RF-18]

no, it doesn't. It suggests pathetic CC competition + nadal playing well, not necessarily in the form of his life.

Competition isn't top notch but even with that I think it is something out of the ordinary to win 50 sets in a row.

Already said Thiem played pretty well.
Lulz, with Nadal playing considerably better than yesterday, Baena was able to get 8 games off Nadal at Barcelona.
Good players would've pushed yesterday's Nadal in both sets, probably even won a set.

No one right now can put the pressure and challenge Nadal off the ground like Thiem did. It has alot to do with whom you play aswell, and the way Thiem played affected Nadal, despite that Nadal could of done better but fact remains is you are not gonna get Nadal vulnerable unless you ask questions and don't bend down to him.

His game isn't top notch outside of clay. So hell yeah, it is about standards.

No it isn't top notch outside of clay but the potential is there, it won't change my opinion that he a heck of a tennis player.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

He went from dorky to dapper.

He became badass like Hawk.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Me too, his new haircut is amazing (seriously!)

Looks like an alt-righter

 

[abmk]

Competition isn't top notch but even with that I think it is something out of the ordinary to win 50 sets in a row.

isn't/wasn't top notch ? yeah, right. It was pathetic. it just took Nadal playing well to put up that stream. not the tennis of his life.

No one right now can put the pressure and challenge Nadal off the ground like Thiem did. It has alot to do with whom you play aswell, and the way Thiem played affected Nadal, despite that Nadal could of done better but fact remains is you are not gonna get Nadal vulnerable unless you ask questions and don't bend down to him.

That's because federer is 36.5, nearing 37 to be more precise, &not playing on clay as a result, Djokovic is woefully out of form, Murray out injured, Stan out injured etc.
Of course you are not going to get Nadal vulnerable unless you ask questions. No doubt Thiem is good on clay and can definitely do more than that. Which is why he won.

Doesn't mean others couldn't get a set vs an off-form Nadal like yesterday (to actually seal the deal by winning is a step further though). Someone like a Fognini playing like he did when he got Nadal twice on clay in 15, Isner serving out his mind, an in-form delpo are possibilities.

No it isn't top notch outside of clay but the potential is there, it won't change my opinion that he a heck of a tennis player.

quite a few players have better game and potential outside of clay than Thiem does, right now.

if we're talking about potential, IMO : Zverev, Kyrgios, Chung, Shapo, Rublev, Khachanov ...these guys have more potential outside of clay.

 

[RF-18]

isn't/wasn't top notch ? yeah, right. It was pathetic. it just took Nadal playing well to put up that stream. not the tennis of his life.




That's because federer is 36.5, nearing 37 to be more precise, &not playing on clay as a result, Djokovic is woefully out of form, Murray out injured, Stan out injured etc.
Of course you are not going to get Nadal vulnerable unless you ask questions. No doubt Thiem is good on clay and can definitely do more than that. Which is why he won.

Doesn't mean others couldn't get a set vs an off-form Nadal like yesterday (to actually seal the deal by winning is a step further though). Someone like a Fognini playing like he did when he got Nadal twice on clay in 15, Isner serving out his mind, an in-form delpo are possibilities.



quite a few players have better game and potential outside of clay than Thiem does, right now.

if we're talking about potential, IMO : Zverev, Kyrgios, Chung, Shapo, Rublev, Khachanov ...these guys have more potential outside of clay.

I can see we have our differences on "form.of his life part" but either way there is no denying the 50 sets in a row no matter the competition.

I'd like to state that as a result of Thiems quality and the way he played was a direct consequence on Nadal not being up to par. I'm not saying Nadal can't keep up with Thiem, but as a result of Thiem playing so well, he opened himself a chance to push him and he couldn't answer well enough and that is the only chance you will have against him on clay, But in order to open up this opportunity of catching Rafa on a bad day, you need the game and you need to play very well to push him there, wich Thiem did and is the only one currently who can do that.

I'm not just gonna look at How Nadal played and then say Lorenzi would of taken a set against him, cause Lorenzi would never challenge Nadal to the point where Nadal starts making mistakes and making him start doubting. There are two players on the court, not one.

Uhm No, Khachanov and Rublev? LOL.

Thiem has the highest potential IMO. He has the biggest game and it's all up to him if he is gonna be the best.

 

[Forehand_Slice]

Nobody beat Thiem 7 times in a row.

Anderson however... 0-12 against his grand nemesis.

 

[MichaelNadal]

He is cute definitely. but he looks about ten. Legal but I feel sleazy.

Lol he looks early 20's to me. He's a dilf in training

 

[abmk]

I can see we have our differences on "form.of his life part" but either way there is no denying the 50 sets in a row no matter the competition.

I'd like to state that as a result of Thiems quality and the way he played was a direct consequence on Nadal not being up to par. I'm not saying Nadal can't keep up with Thiem, but as a result of Thiem playing so well, he opened himself a chance to push him and he couldn't answer well enough and that is the only chance you will have against him on clay, But in order to open up this opportunity of catching Rafa on a bad day, you need the game and you need to play very well to push him there, wich Thiem did and is the only one currently who can do that.

I'm not just gonna look at How Nadal played and then say Lorenzi would of taken a set against him, cause Lorenzi would never challenge Nadal to the point where Nadal starts making mistakes and making him start doubting. There are two players on the court, not one.

Uhm No, Khachanov and Rublev? LOL.

Thiem has the highest potential IMO. He has the biggest game and it's all up to him if he is gonna be the best.

its funny you should mention Lorenzi because Lorenzi actually took a set off Nadal in Rome 2011.

Thiem has the heaviest groundstrokes, but not necessarily the biggest game.
Khachanov has a bigger game. (including serve)
Zverev, Kyrgios, Shapo have clearly better/bigger serves.

Rublev has faster groundstrokes, Shapo too. (by faster, I mean from the point of view of the opposing player....hitting 80 mph from the baseline is more effective than hitting 82 mph from way behind the baseline for instance, the opposing player has less time to react in the 1st instance than the 2nd one)

as far as the bold part goes, I already addressed that in my post. Read again.

 

[abmk]

@RF-18 :

turns out I probably over-rated Thiem on clay , atleast a bit !
I thought he'd beat Zverev and he lost in straight sets, no less ! (with no BPs)

Thiem's the better CC player and has had the better of their matchup on clay. But Z is also playing well.
Thiem in 2 tight sets or in 3 sets.

 

[Tshooter]

It just pi sses me off to rage when you see the talent he has be wasted in some of his sorry losses... He should be contending week in and out most of the time.

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-calm-down

Thiem has a winning record verse The GOAT.