Prediction: Thiem for #1

[Sysyphus]

I say the Austrian sensation will get his hands on the #1 ranking. By Roland Garros 2020, that is.

Djokovic's once so supreme consistency isn't quite the same, Nadal is never healthy for long, Federer is a pensioner and part-time tennis tourist, Next Is Not Here.

Thiem is now capable of winning big titles on hard courts as well as clay; now that Nadal is losing his clay grip, there will be heaps of points potentially there for the taking for Thiem this season and the next; and he has the motivation and physical resources to play forty 250 tournaments a season if need be.

However, Novak Djokovic will nevertheless manage to break the record for weeks at #1.

What say ye? Who will be next player to ascend to #1 of our sport? And when?

@Meles, give me a beat

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

I'd love that to happen, but he is almost a no force on low bounce surfaces

 

[tennisaddict]

Thiem lost to Hurkacz at Miami . He had a bye /cakewalk draw at IW. He is a long way from beating the top 8 regularly and consistently on HC

 

[ADuck]

Novak will get to 320+ weeks before this happens. Thiem may get the No.1 ranking at some point but I don't think for longer than 20+ weeks and that is assuming he makes big improvements to his game on all surfaces. Will he make those improvements or are the recent results affecting our judgement here? A lot of good players besides Thiem have had flashes of good form only to be forgotten a year later.

 

[r2473]

Zverev has a better chance.

But I can easily see Djokovic holding it for quite a while

 

[Sysyphus]

if anyone is to snatch it by the end of 2020, it should be between Thiem and Zverev.

In the longer run, I'd favor Zverev due to his greater cross-surface versatility, but he is in a funk and might not get out of it in time to stop Thiem from getting to #1 before him.

 

[Rosstour]

I'd love that to happen, but he is almost a no force on low bounce surfaces

True, but Rafa has been able to dominate the tour for years because it is so clay-biased.

If Thiem does become the next King of Clay and there is no Djokovic/Federer type player to dominate hard courts and grass, then this could easily happen.

 

[Rosstour]

if anyone is to snatch it by the end of 2020, it should be between Thiem and Zverev.

In the longer run, I'd favor Zverev due to his greater cross-surface versatility, but he is in a funk and might not get out of it in time to stop Thiem from getting to #1 before him.

I do think that Zverev has hit a bit of a peak. Or a rut.

It seems that once he got to a certain level, he just assumed that the next steps were assured. And they aren't.

 

[Meles]

I say the Austrian sensation will get his hands on the #1 ranking. By Roland Garros 2020, that is.

Djokovic's once so supreme consistency isn't quite the same, Nadal is never healthy for long, Federer is a pensioner and part-time tennis tourist, Next Is Not Here.

Thiem is now capable of winning big titles on hard courts as well as clay; now that Nadal is losing his clay grip, there will be heaps of points potentially there for the taking for Thiem this season and the next; and he has the motivation and physical resources to play forty 250 tournaments a season if need be.

However, Novak Djokovic will nevertheless manage to break the record for weeks at #1.

What say ye? Who will be next player to ascend to #1 of our sport? And when?

@Meles, give me a beat

This comes down to whether the new US Open surface is really viable for Thiem. Dismissal of Anderson and first set vicious stomping of Nadal say yes. But Thiem's penchant for bad post RG seasons needs to show further progress this year for me to become one of your Bullievers.

 

[tennisaddict]

Tsitsipas May catch fire .

Nadal could do well

 

[Sartorius]

*Thiem

 

[Sysyphus]

One dufus in the way:

10/2019 R16 Indian Wells Masters Hard Dominic Thiem Ivo Karlovic 6-4 6-3

Thiem owns serve bots now – timber gonna fall

 

[Luka888]

Maybe at some point but Djokovic is too strong. Dominic would need to win RG and some more. Thiem is great on clay but I'm not so sure. Not this year. He would need to win everything left and right. I doubt it.

It's more likely that Fed will be again #1 than Dominic. Nadal is still there too.

I still see Djokovic, regardless of his latest loses in masters, as a man on mission. I don't really know who is going to 'dethrone' him, when and where. I just see nobody to be honest with you. Djokovic will peak at majors again. That is my strong feeling.

Best luck to Dominic .

 

[tennis_pro]

Yes I'm rooting for the Ozzie hard

 

[Red Rick]

Y'all disappoint me

 

[Luka888]

Yes I'm rooting for the Ozzie hard

lol. You are crazy. I love that movie but it's interesting how you came with that scene.

Too funny. Lovely accent, New Jersey? No, Austria lol.

 

[Red Rick]

I say the Austrian sensation will get his hands on the #1 ranking. By Roland Garros 2020, that is.

Djokovic's once so supreme consistency isn't quite the same, Nadal is never healthy for long, Federer is a pensioner and part-time tennis tourist, Next Is Not Here.

Thiem is now capable of winning big titles on hard courts as well as clay; now that Nadal is losing his clay grip, there will be heaps of points potentially there for the taking for Thiem this season and the next; and he has the motivation and physical resources to play forty 250 tournaments a season if need be.

However, Novak Djokovic will nevertheless manage to break the record for weeks at #1.

What say ye? Who will be next player to ascend to #1 of our sport? And when?

@Meles, give me a beat

I'm not entirely sure if you're serious mate.

In all seriousness, I simply don't think that one big HC win is enough to assume he's gonna keep scoring major points on the surface. And you don't really get there by winning on clay and making semi's on HC. I guess there's a scenario where Djokovic will still win 2 Slams and get under like 8.000 points in which case it's possible, but if it comes to it I think Djokovic will wake up for that #1 chase to get the record.

 

[Sysyphus]

I'm not entirely sure if you're serious mate.

I don't always go publicly out on a limb, but when I do, I'm usually disgustingly right.

Exhibit A, March 2015.
Exhibit B, July 2015.
Exhibit C, October 2016.
Exhibit D, July 2017.

Or -- abominably, odiously wrong:
Exhibit A
and B

 

[Red Rick]

I don't always go publicly out on a limb, but when I do, I'm usually disgustingly right.

Exhibit A, March 2015.
Exhibit B, July 2015.
Exhibit C, October 2016.
Exhibit D, July 2017.

Or -- abominably, odiously wrong:
Exhibit A
and B

I was on my way betting both my kidneys until I saw the 2nd part

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Sweat dropping from his furrowed brow, Dominic composes himself and hits a thunderous serve. Roger is caught flat footed, his feeble attempt to stab at the ball for naught as he gets his feet tangled in the mud. The crowd lets out a thunderous roar. He’s done it! Dominic has done it after a 20 minute game 13 deuce game! The Diamond Age has arrived! He has held serve! The dust previously blocking the scoreboard is now coated in iridescent light, illuminating the moment.

Federer 6 4 7 6 5 1

Federer holds serve in 40 seconds and is your 2019 French Open Champion!

 

[Red Rick]

Sweat dropping from his furrowed brow, Dominic composes himself and hits a thunderous serve. Roger is caught flat footed, his feeble attempt to stab at the ball for naught as he gets his feet tangled in the mud. The crowd lets out a thunderous roar. He’s done it! Dominic has done it after a 20 minute game 13 deuce game! The Diamond Age has arrived! He has held serve! The dust previously blocking the scoreboard is now coated in iridescent light, illuminating the moment.

Federer 6 4 7 6 5 1

Federer holds serve in 40 seconds and is your 2019 French Open Champion!

Im going tp the KFC to order 2 buckets of nuggets so I can throuw them around in my moms house

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Im going tp the KFC to order 2 buckets of nuggets so I can throuw them around in my moms house

That was my application to write for Game of Thrones. Did I make it? @StANDAA @Rago

 

[EloQuent]

If he wins RG and either Rome or Madrid, plus say a SF at USO and maybe a summer 500 or something like that, AND Novak falls from grace, then he'll be #1.

Actually might not even need to win much more than RG or a final plus a masters, could be #1 with like 6000 points like the WTA.

But, an all surface threat like Tsitsipas has a more likely chance.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I like the sound of that...

 

[Red Rick]

That was my application to write for Game of Thrones. Did I make it? @StANDAA @Rago

Not enough subverted expectations.

You didn't waste 7 seasons of buildup. You peasant.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Not enough subverted expectations.

You didn't waste 7 seasons of buildup. You peasant.

We haven’t been hyping thiem for 7 yrs yet? Dam

 

[BeatlesFan]

Zverev has a better chance.

Zverev has done absolutely nothing all year and is hemorrhaging points. He has another 1,000 points to defend this week. He's not getting anywhere near the #1 ranking this year unless a miracle occurs with his form. I say Ivan dumps him after Wimbledon, following another dismal slam performance.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Not enough subverted expectations.

You didn't waste 7 seasons of buildup. You peasant.

Did somebody say subverted expectations?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Terry Griffiths wins the 2025 world championship, beating Alan McManus in the final 18-0. You wanted your subverted? You got it.

 

[Sartorius]

Not enough subverted expectations.

You didn't waste 7 seasons of buildup. You peasant.

We haven’t been hyping thiem for 7 yrs yet? Dam

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[metsman]

I don't see it, Fedr won't be around much longer to give Thiem charitable donations like IW final and besides that, what can Thiem really hang his hat on? He's found a way to not get upset by mugs at RG but how long will that last?

 

[metsman]

I was on my way betting both my kidneys until I saw the 2nd part

Wise move, how will you process all the salt when Fedr wins golden slam in 2020 if you give up your kidneys?

 

[EloQuent]

At some point I may have to dust off my "when will a non B4 be #2" thread.

 

[justasport]

I actually do believe Thiem will get to number one eventually as will Zverev and Tsitsipas. However they will have to wait a little while because there is a 37 year old guy who's going to take that position away from Djokovic before the year is over.

 

[Sudacafan]

The Sureshs thread makes more sense than this one.

 

[Rago]

That was my application to write for Game of Thrones. Did I make it? @StANDAA @Rago

The Hound approves.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

The Hound approves.

 

[guitarra]

It'll be either Thiem or Tsitsipas.

Dominic needs to become more consistent on grass and lower bouncing/ quicker HC which will be a tough task for him because of some technical issues. Nevertheless if USO keeps it's current surface he might have an outside chance.

Stef on the other hand looks like the most consistent and all-round player on all surfaces from all next generation players. It's the question of additional 5-10% improvement and he might very well start dominating the game especially with the BIG3 on their way out of it.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

True, but Rafa has been able to dominate the tour for years because it is so clay-biased.

If Thiem does become the next King of Clay and there is no Djokovic/Federer type player to dominate hard courts and grass, then this could easily happen.

Well, while it stands as the fact that nadal is not as good as federer or djokovic on hard and grass Courts; but he was still a force to reckon with from the very beginning of his prime in early 2005...
Whereas thiem is almost at 25 and still no big improvements whatsoever on low bouncing HC and grass courts.. and was almost a joke on slow high bouncing HCs too, until last September

 

[Rosstour]

Well, while it stands as the fact that nadal is not as good as federer or djokovic on hard and grass Courts; but he was still a force to reckon with from the very beginning of his prime in early 2005...
Whereas thiem is almost at 25 and still no big improvements whatsoever on low bouncing HC and grass courts.. and was almost a joke on slow high bouncing HCs too, until last September

That's why his chances of getting/staying #1 are highly dependent on the rest of the field.

 

[mike danny]

This comes down to whether the new US Open surface is really viable for Thiem. Dismissal of Anderson and first set vicious stomping of Nadal say yes. But Thiem's penchant for bad post RG seasons needs to show further progress this year for me to become one of your Bullievers.

Looks at avatar: not another one!!.

 

[BGod]

I mean, yes I think he gets it at some point. I voted RG 2020 but it could be earlier or later depending.

His problem is IW points which he's unlikely to defend but then he lost in AO 2nd round. This means he needs to do something in the later stages of this season because he could hold it in the event Novak doesn't defend AO.

I think smart money says he gets it at some point in 2020 and likely in 2021 if he doesn't. The clay season offers up 5,500 points for the 3 Masters, RG and Barcelona. Winning all of them is asking for near the impossible (I think only Nadal 2010 did this) but 4,000 points for a one man team is possible. Then he has to pad somewhat at other events with slow hard, which currently includes USO, IW and Miami. He can also pick some up at the WTF by winning 2 matches.

He's way too old in making serious consistent strides at faster events.

 

[van_Loederen]

who'll be next number 1 ? good question.

Thiem looks like the favourite indeed, mostly due to his age advantage.
his limitations on quicker courts might be compensated by the overall level of his rivals.
there's however a chance he'll find ways to screw it up (like stupid injuries or his immune system).

Zverev is kinda handicapped due to his size. if he managed to make great improvements going forward, that would be quite sensational actually (in a bad way of course ).
there's a chance that consistency will be enough though, if noone else steps it up.

Tsitsipas looks like second favourite to me. his only problem seems to be his age.

Medvedev may be a dark horse. he's very tall too, but moves better than Zverev. gotta see if he can improve his serve and tactics.

lastly there's still Pouille. his peak level is very high, but he's not only French, he's also Finnish.

 

[DSH]

It's inevitable, my dear Watson.

 

[Meles]

Looks at avatar: not another one!!.

 

[bitcoinoperated]

A claycourt basher? I don't think so.

 

[Meles]

I don't always go publicly out on a limb, but when I do, I'm usually disgustingly right.

Exhibit A, March 2015.
Exhibit B, July 2015.
Exhibit C, October 2016.
Exhibit D, July 2017.

 

[Meles]

10/2019 R16 Indian Wells Masters Hard Dominic Thiem Ivo Karlovic 6-4 6-3

Thiem owns serve bots now – timber gonna fall

Literally.

 

[Meles]

Massu definitely a huge, huge asset:
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/massu-on-thiem-partnership-2019

El Vampiro getting Thiem to such the life out of opponents.