Is Thiem doomed to be this generation’s Roddick?

[Nadalgaenger]

As a fan, I really hope I’m wrong, but I fear he is emerging as an “also ran” sort of player.

Roddick would likely have 3-4 Wimbledons and an extra USO or AO if it weren’t for Fed.
Roddick was lucky enough to snap up a slam before Fed began his reign of dominance.
Thiem may be lucky enough to do the same after the Big 3 have receded from the stage.

Roddick was seen as a “mindless ball basher,” by some critics, and that’s a name that’s been thrown around for Thiem, though in fairness, I think Thiem has incorporated a lot more finesse into his game. His dropshot has become an awesome weapon, one of the very best on tour.

Thoughts?

 

[Goof]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was. With that said, I can see the comparison with Thiem/Roddick making several finals against a potential GOAT on his best surface and maybe winning one Grand Slam when the GOATs aren't yet/any-longer in their way of a Major title.

 

[mahesh69a]

Once the Big 3 (and Murray and Wawrinka) retire, I think the ATP will be like the current WTA - anybody can win a slam (and lose in the first couple of rounds of the next major).

So, sure Thiem has chances in the future if he maintains a decent level.

 

[BGod]

Good catch on Thiem catching a single Slam by default after the Big 3 are retired.

Given he's 25 and will be 26 before a possible USO title that means his max is already set at 4 Slams. Going by historical precedent.

 

[Red Rick]

 

[Backspin1183]

He would love to have a Roddick like career by winning RG once and maybe 3-5 Masters 1000 as well.

 

[Red Rick]

Roddick did better on clay Bo5 vs Nadal than Thiem did

ROFLMAO

 

[travlerajm]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was.

That’s a new one.

By the time Roddick was Thiem’s age, he had made the semi or better at 8 grand slam events.

Thiem has yet to make a semi at a non-dirt slam.

 

[Sabrina]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was. With that said, I can see the comparison with Thiem/Roddick making several finals against a potential GOAT on his best surface and maybe winning one Grand Slam when the GOATs aren't yet/any-longer in their way of a Major title.

 

[Mainad]

Well, he could do much worse than end up like Roddick with a Slam title, 5 Masters, 26 other titles and the #1 ranking to his name.

 

[Red Rick]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was.

 

[MeatTornado]

If Thiem wins RG and reaches #1 I think that would be a very good career for someone of his talents. I've never looked and him and thought he should have 4-6 majors.

He better start stepping up more outside the majors too if he wants to be the next Roddick.

 

[JasonZ]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was. With that said, I can see the comparison with Thiem/Roddick making several finals against a potential GOAT on his best surface and maybe winning one Grand Slam when the GOATs aren't yet/any-longer in their way of a Major title.

Many players have been much better all around players than Roddick, still Roddick was a better player than them because of his serve.

Roddick of 2003 and 2004 is a much better player than Thiem, except on clay of course

 

[tudwell]

I think he could easily match if not exceed Roddick’s major count (depends on how long Nadal stays dominant and if any other younger clay phenoms arise), but I don’t think he’ll make multiple slam finals on multiple surfaces, end a year number one (or probably even hold the number one ranking), or win as many titles overall as Roddick did. But in the sense that he’ll sneak a slam title while for most of the rest of his career being dominated by one of the best players to play the game, then yes, you could say his career might end up being pretty similar.

 

[r2473]

Isn’t Roddick in the tennis hall of fame?

 

[sureshs]

Isn’t Roddick in the tennis hall of fame?

An unnecessary question easily checked on google

 

[fundrazer]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was. With that said, I can see the comparison with Thiem/Roddick making several finals against a potential GOAT on his best surface and maybe winning one Grand Slam when the GOATs aren't yet/any-longer in their way of a Major title.

Are you sure? We don't even know if Thiem's going to be a contender outside of RG yet. What separates his game from Roddicks? Better backhand and movement yes. Roddick's forehand is probably on a similar level, and a much better serve.

Roddick possibly could have won at 3 of the 4 slams without Fed around. We might not be able to say the same for Thiem, but who knows.

 

[Mainad]

Isn’t Roddick in the tennis hall of fame?

Inducted 2 years ago with Kim Clijsters.

 

[Red Rick]

Are you sure? We don't even know if Thiem's going to be a contender outside of RG yet. What separates his game from Roddicks? Better backhand and movement yes. Roddick's forehand is probably on a similar level, and a much better serve.

Roddick possibly could have won at 3 of the 4 slams without Fed around. We might not be able to say the same for Thiem, but who knows.

Federer not only beat Roddick, he got him to fire his coach and start having the worst tactics ever. It could easily be much more than 3/4.

 

[Goof]

Every aspect of Thiem's game is better than Roddick's was, except for the serve. Roddick had a top five all-time serve (maybe even #3, behind Sampras and Goran).

 

[r2473]

Isn’t Roddick in the tennis hall of fame?

Inducted 2 years ago with Kim Clijsters.

I guess it's what you would call a rhetorical question.

In other words, is Thiem doomed to have a hall of fame career like Roddick? Sounds awful. It's almost like asking if Thiem is doomed to have a career like Moya or Ferrero.

 

[Standaa]

Inducted 2 years ago with Kim Clijsters.

"I mean it when I say it’s an honor to be the worst player in the Hall of Fame."

 

[tudwell]

Every aspect of Thiem's game is better than Roddick's was, except for the serve. Roddick had a top five all-time serve (maybe even #3, behind Sampras and Goran).

Not really. Roddick’s forehand (in his best years) was light years better on fast surfaces than Thiem’s is. Their return numbers on hard are identical and Roddick’s are better on grass (Thiem is better on clay of course), so even on return Thiem isn’t sizably superior. No clear advantage to Thiem in net play or touch shots either, in my opinion (maybe droppers). It’s mostly the backhand and movement where Thiem’s clearly better, but that doesn’t make up for Roddick’s huge advantage on serve.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was.

What utter nonsense. When Roddick was 25, he'd already won a slam and made 4 other slam finals and had been ranked #1. I was never a Roddick fan, but the amount of sheer nonsense written about him here is hilarious. No one who ever actually watched Roddick play would claim Thiem is the better player, at least at this point of Dom's career.

@Red Rick

 

[Mainad]

I guess it's what you would call a rhetorical question.

In other words, is Thiem doomed to have a hall of fame career like Roddick? Sounds awful. It's almost like asking if Thiem is doomed to have a career like Moya or Ferrero.

As I just said, he could do a lot worse. All of those guys won a Slam and made #1 so 'doomed' seems a bit of an odd choice of word.

 

[FedHeadComposer]

Doomed to reach #1 and go out on his own terms? He's got work to do to catch Roddick.

 

[Mainad]

"I mean it when I say it’s an honor to be the worst player in the Hall of Fame."

Overly modest Andy. He is, of course, far from being the worst player in the Hall of Fame.

 

[sureshs]

I guess it's what you would call a rhetorical question.

In other words, is Thiem doomed to have a hall of fame career like Roddick? Sounds awful. It's almost like asking if Thiem is doomed to have a career like Moya or Ferrero.

No it is not. Roddick is a Slam winner and a #1 in rankings unlike Thiem, Moya or Ferrero. That is why he is the IHOF.

 

[fundrazer]

Federer not only beat Roddick, he got him to fire his coach and start having the worst tactics ever. It could easily be much more than 3/4.

I meant that he could have won at three of the four slams. AO, Wimby, US Open. We both know he's not winning an RG title

He could definitely have won more than 3-4. You think about it he potentially could have had multiple titles at those three slams.

 

[Lew II]

Roddick did better on clay Bo5 vs Nadal than Thiem did

ROFLMAO

Thiem already has more wins over Federer than Roddick ever had.

ROFLMAO

 

[NatF]

I meant that he could have won at three of the four slams. AO, Wimby, US Open. We both know he's not winning an RG title

He could definitely have won more than 3-4. You think about it he potentially could have had multiple titles at those three slams.

Almost certainly he'd have multiple at Wimbledon/USO, he might have a AO but hard to say more than that.

 

[Red Rick]

Thiem already has more wins over Federer than Roddick ever had.

ROFLMAO

Gives you an idea of how ****ing much worse Federer has gotten

 

[Standaa]

 

[Lew II]

Gives you an idea of how ****ing much worse Federer has gotten

Roddick took to 5th set peak Nadal, right?

 

[EloQuent]

Was actually thinking about this comparison! Roddick at least won a slam before Fedr took over.

 

[Jonesy]

Makes you wonder how much slams Nishikori would have won had Djoker not been around.

 

[r2473]

No it is not. Roddick is a Slam winner and a #1 in rankings unlike Thiem, Moya or Ferrero. That is why he is the IHOF.

An unnecessary question easily checked on google

Why don't you give google a quick check with respect to Moya and Ferrero

 

[Goof]

Roddick took to 5th set peak Nadal, right?

No. Roddick won one set 7-6 against Nadal in a best of 5 on Indoor Clay when Nadal was 18 years old. Their only other matchup on clay was a 6-4 6-0 6-4 peak Nadal win.

You are probably thinking of John Isner, a very comparable player to Roddick.

 

[Arafel]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was. With that said, I can see the comparison with Thiem/Roddick making several finals against a potential GOAT on his best surface and maybe winning one Grand Slam when the GOATs aren't yet/any-longer in their way of a Major title.

That is so wrong it's laughable. Go watch the 2004 Wimbledon final, or the 2009 one, and watch Roddick mix up his shots, attack the net with effectiveness, and rally with Roger. You have NO idea of what you are talking about.

 

[Goof]

That is so wrong it's laughable. Go watch the 2004 Wimbledon final, or the 2009 one, and watch Roddick mix up his shots, attack the net with effectiveness, and rally with Roger. You have NO idea of what you are talking about.

I think those matches say more about Federer than they do about Roddick.

 

[Enga]

I dont think so, he seems poised to be one of the best players after some of the older players retire. He will have a lot of competition though because big 4 retirement would open the doors for a lot of craziness.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Would be really cruel on Domi if he doesn't become more successful.

 

[Arafel]

I think those matches say more about Federer than they do about Roddick.

The quality of play in both is phenomenal. I think without the second rain delay, Roddick takes the third set in 04, and then who knows what happens.

 

[NatF]

Would be really cruel on Domi if he doesn't become more successful.

Would be really cruel on @Red Rick if he does.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Thiem is a much, much better all-around player than Roddick ever was. With that said, I can see the comparison with Thiem/Roddick making several finals against a potential GOAT on his best surface and maybe winning one Grand Slam when the GOATs aren't yet/any-longer in their way of a Major title.

Thiem is 25.75 years of age and has made ONE QF outside of RG.

Roddick at the same age had made 10 QF, 3 SF, 1 F, and 1 W outside of Wimbledon.

To say that Thiem is a better or more complete player than Roddick was, given the dearth of information suggesting otherwise, is absolutely moronic.

Same age comparison. And it's not like Thiem has been mostly losing to the Big 3 outside of RG.

 

[Red Rick]

Would be really cruel on @Red Rick if he does.

They just gifted Chris Froome a GT victory from 2011 by pulling a bio passport case out of their asses.

The world is already cruel enough for me.

 

[Red Rick]

Thiem is age 25.5 years of age and has mad ONE QF outside of RG.

Roddick at the same age had made 10 QF, 3 SF, 1 F, and 1 W outside of Wimbledon.

To say that Thiem is a better or more complete player than Roddick was, given the dearth of information suggesting otherwise, is absolutely moronic.

bUt tHiEm hAs A pReTtIeR bAcKhAnD

 

[Goof]

Thiem is age 25.5 years of age and has mad ONE QF outside of RG.

Roddick at the same age had made 10 QF, 3 SF, 1 F, and 1 W outside of Wimbledon.

To say that Thiem is a better or more complete player than Roddick was, given the dearth of information suggesting otherwise, is absolutely moronic.

Roddick was clearly the more accomplished player, but I think the competition of their respective eras should be taken into account when gauging players' abilities vs accomplishments.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Nothing wrong with ending up with Roddick resume.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Roddick was clearly the more accomplished player, but I think the competition of their respective eras should be taken into account when gauging players' abilities vs accomplishments.

Thiem loses to mugs most of the time. It isn't like the big 3 are usually stopping him outside of RG. Look at the image I just posted in my previous post. Roddick's era was far deeper considering he actually had talented contemporaries. Thiem is in a tweener generation of his own.