At Thiem's age...

[King No1e]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

 

[Lleytonstation]

And I kissed my first girl... well, I tried...

But I did have 26 slams on Top Spin 4.

 

[guitarra]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

Oh what a great compilation. But because you are asking for it I'll bite. One point is missing on your list:
At Dominic Thiem's age a certain Stan Wawrinka had 0 slam semis, 1 masters final, and 3 titles.
Guess what happened next? He won 3 slams. You might want to check whom he beat in 2 finals and a QF while winning those slams.

 

[Phoenix1983]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

I would change only one letter in your entire post.

In the word "crown", replace the letter "r" with "l" to reveal the true status of Dominic Thiem.

 

[Yugram]

The Great Age Shift.

@UnderratedSlam

 

[Daniel Andrade]

He won't ever be an ATG, but he can win a grandslam or 2.

 

[r2473]

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now.

Of course they're ahead of him. Once the Big 3 retire, the ATP =WTA. Anybody can win. Before that, only 3 (and now really 2) players can win anything of worth.

Thiem will end up with 3+ slams, but he won't start winning until Djoko and Nadal stop winning.

 

[Heliath]

At 26, your physical prime is still ahead. Thiem wont be an ATG but he still has the potential to win several GS.

 

[BeatlesFan]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months....
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

Great post with great info, but remember what Lendl said in July: "In today's game, 32 is the new 27."

I'm not sure who here besides Meles ever thought Thiem would be an ATG or win many slams. He may win 3 or 4, which is still a great, great career and HOF worthy. It's too bad he didn't dump that childhood coach of his years back and gotten Massu, who has done great things with Thiem's HC game.

 

[pj80]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

and Wawrinka had 0 slams

 

[King No1e]

Great post with great info, but remember what Lendl said in July: "In today's game, 32 is the new 27."

I'm not sure who here besides Meles ever thought Thiem would be an ATG or win many slams. He may win 3 or 4, which is still a great, great career and HOF worthy. It's too bad he didn't dump that childhood coach of his years back and gotten Massu, who has done great things with Thiem's HC game.

By ATG I mean 4-5. I hate how polarized people's expectations of young players have become. It's either "mug, will never reach a Slam final" or "will beat all of Fed's records".

There were only 2 double digit winners in the Open Era before 2007. The definition of ATG for me has always been 5+ Slams.

Fedalovic aren't happening again, and expecting "great things" from the new gen doesn't mean expecting them to fill Fedalovic's shoes.

 

[Red Rick]

Next year, I can tell the world how Dominic Thiem at 26 pales in comparison to Red Rick at 26.

 

[ollinger]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

don't ever have children!! Comparing the accomplishments of one to the accomplishments of the others is very destructive.

 

[Jokervich]

Thiem was never good enough to be an ATG. His game isn't good enough. He's a good player, but never was and never will at that level.

 

[King No1e]

don't ever have children!! Comparing the accomplishments of one to the accomplishments of the others is very destructive.

Well I'd never tell Thiem that to his face, but this is TTW, realm of the armchair analysts!

 

[Musterrific]

I'll be very surprised if he doesn't win at least 2 French Opens after Nadal declines, and I could see him maybe even bagging a hardcourt slam. Such a shame he couldn't put Nadal away in that epic US Open quarterfinal last year - that might have been his golden chance.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I didn't know Connors was such a young sensation lol

 

[Mainad]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

Andy Murray had won 2 Slams, made 5 other finals (all on 2 surfaces), won 9 Masters 1000s and an Olympic Singles Gold Medal.

 

[Yugram]

Hey, @Clown No1e, u ready to gloryhunt for Thiem at RG next year?

 

[Deon Sanders]

Dominic Thiem is Jack Sock without the grand slam trophies

His time has come and gone

 

[Roddick85]

It's amazing how the top 3 basically changed how fans measure "success" in modern tennis. I don't think we'll ever see any players matching the consistent year in/year out success these guys had for well over a decade now. I think these guys are truly in a class of their own, and while I say never say never, I have a hard time imagining anyone coming even close to achieving that level of consistency or winning as much.

Back to Thiem, I think he's really started to come on his own in 2018 and he's improved even more in 2019. He's a solid top 10 player, his best surface is obviously clay but I like how he's now become a contender on hard courts. He won what is arguably the most prestigious MS-1000 against Federer in IW, FO final against Rafa, that's a pretty solid year if you ask me. He's also had 2 rather epic matches with Djokovic which I thought were very entertaining at the FO & WTF. He's got a legit chance of winning the WTF this week-end as well. While I agree that he might not be "that young" anymore at 26, he still has some good years ahead of him. He probably won't rewrite the record book, but still that doesn't mean one can't have a successful career nonetheless.

 

[mike danny]

Oh what a great compilation. But because you are asking for it I'll bite. One point is missing on your list:
At Dominic Thiem's age a certain Stan Wawrinka had 0 slam semis, 1 masters final, and 3 titles.
Guess what happened next? He won 3 slams. You might want to check whom he beat in 2 finals and a QF while winning those slams.

I also advice you to check the amount of mileage Stan had before that vs Thiem right now, who has been a better contender between ages 23-26 than Stan.

 

[Sudacafan]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

At Thiem's age...

I had a steady job and I already had a bachelor degree.

 

[MeatTornado]

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

Agree that it's time for him to play like he's in his prime. Disagree about the "now or never" part. Clearly the modern game has proven he could have a lot of years left.

The ship has sailed on him ever being mentioned among the greats you listed, but he still has plenty of time to potentially win majors. I say this even though I'm worried about how he'll hold up physically as the years drag on.

 

[Meles]

At Dominic Thiem's age of 26 years, 2 months:

Bjorn Borg had won all 11 of his Slams and spent 2 years at #1.
Jimmy Connors had won 5 Slams, completed a 21-0 Slam season, and spent 5 years at #1.
John McEnroe had won all 7 of his Slams and spent 4 years at #1, including his GOAT 1984 season.
Mats Wilander had won all 7 of his Slams, including a 3-Slam season, and was in decline.
Ivan Lendl had won 3 Slams.
Boris Becker had won 5 of his 6 Slams.
Jim Courier had won all 4 of his Slams.
Pete Sampras had won 10 of his 14 Slams and spent 5 years at #1.
Lleyton Hewitt had won all of his Slams and was long past his #1 days.
Roger Federer had won 12 Slams and spent 4 years at #1.
Rafael Nadal had completed the Career Slam, won 11 Slams (including all his AO and Wimbledon titles) and spent 2 years at #1.
Novak Djokovic had won 6 Slams, completed his GOAT-tier 2011 season, won 3 AO's in a row, and spent 2 years at #1.

Dominic Thiem is no longer a young player. His prime years not ahead of him, they are here and now. If he is to add his name to that illustrious list, he's got to win Slams and become #1 in 2020.
It's now or never for the Crown Prince of Clay.

Thiem clearly a late bloomer as he visually hit his speed peak this Spring at age 25.5.

Thiem also is a clay court specialist, so no Nadal in the way wins last three RGs. Open Era players who made two Roland Garros finals in a row by their 26th year:
Federer (not Djokovic who only had one final career by his 26th year)
Kuerten (won)
Bruguera (won)
Courier (won)
Wilander (twice)
Lendl (4 years in a row)
The following are all boosted by RG being a train wreck with its draws in the 1970s (no Connors 74-78 and much more)
Borg (won six times, many in a row)
Vilas (same age as Thiem)
Kodes

So Thiem already with some elite clay court company.

Just because Thiem has started to win a bunch of hard court events in his 26th year (1000 & two ATP 500s & maybe WTF) no need to go crazy with delusions of grandeur about him being some great of the game on all surfaces.

Thiem has already won more indoor hard court events than the GOAT (When Healthy) who only has one. Thiem finally doing some great things but lets not get crazy as he has not statistical basis for slam success outside of clay (could be a weak hard court champion at a major one year).

 

[Robert Baratheon]

At Thiem's age...

I had a steady job and I already had a bachelor degree.

And what did that get you huh old man?
We all ended up on ttw. All equals in this Utopian world.

 

[King No1e]

Hey, @Clown No1e, u ready to gloryhunt for Thiem at RG next year?

You bet...ABTN amirite?

 

[Sudacafan]

And what did that get you huh old man?
We all ended up on ttw. All equals in this Utopian world.

Yes, my dream was to get here to discuss these most important matters with you, son, I made it!

 

[clout]

Agree with @King No1e here. It’s worth mentioning that Borg was already RETIRED when he was Thiems age, while other ATGs like Becker, McEnroe, Wilander, and Edberg had already hit their peaks. There’s no point in mentioning the big three here, we’ll never see anyone comr close to what they’ve achieved.

 

[Azure]

Everyone runs their own race. Why compare? Isn't there enough pressure on all of us to succeed everyday?

 

[Dan Huben]

At thiem’s age, you were still a nobody. Lighten up, Francis.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[LETitBE]

At Thiem's age...

I had a steady job and I already had a bachelor degree.

the older i get the better i was

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

And I kissed my first girl... well, I tried...

Woahh..
Didn't manage one till 26!?? That's insnane

 

[yokied]

Nice going OP. A Djokovic fan forgetting Murray. Wasn't Murray the ATG who made Djokovic's era stronk... And then right on cue...

Andy Murray had won 2 Slams, made 5 other finals (all on 2 surfaces), won 9 Masters 1000s and an Olympic Singles Gold Medal.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I had yet to try Gandalf

 

[UnderratedSlam]

The Great Age Shift.

@UnderratedSlam

The uninitiated can find several threads on GAS... Very educational, as all of my threads are.

Well... most.

 

[King No1e]

At thiem’s age, you were still a nobody. Lighten up, Francis.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

At Thiem's age I had 6 Grand Slams and defeated Rafa Nadal 7 times in a row. How about you?

 

[JackGates]

Because it's the strongest era ever. Young fragile non experienced players can't just show up and dominate like in previous eras.
You could win on talent alone in previous eras, that is no longer the case. I bet Kyrgios would win a slam like Becker at age 17 in other eras too. But just having serve is no longer enough.

 

[ibbi]

Bob Dylan had written The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Another Side of Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home, The Times they are a-Changin', Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde.

 

[James P]

Oh what a great compilation. But because you are asking for it I'll bite. One point is missing on your list:
At Dominic Thiem's age a certain Stan Wawrinka had 0 slam semis, 1 masters final, and 3 titles.
Guess what happened next? He won 3 slams. You might want to check whom he beat in 2 finals and a QF while winning those slams.

He's had a tremendous close out to 2019, but he actually runs the risk of becoming Stan Wawrinka at best at this point in his career, which is precisely what OP was getting at. It's **** or get off the pot time for him.

 

[thrust]

Great post with great info, but remember what Lendl said in July: "In today's game, 32 is the new 27."

I'm not sure who here besides Meles ever thought Thiem would be an ATG or win many slams. He may win 3 or 4, which is still a great, great career and HOF worthy. It's too bad he didn't dump that childhood coach of his years back and gotten Massu, who has done great things with Thiem's HC game.

I agree that Thiem should have got a new coach several years ago. In that players today are peaking later and playing longer, Thiem still has a chance of winning 3-5 slams, at least. I would say that today, 32 is the new 25.

 

[fritzhimself]

I don't think Dominic could have imagined at the age of 15 that he would ever be an international topic of conversation.

 

[tudwell]

Bob Dylan had written The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Another Side of Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home, The Times they are a-Changin', Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde.

Hadn’t won the Nobel Prize in Literature yet, though.