Meles
Bionic Poster
Thiem's start to 2017 seems a bit lackluster, but many positive signs for Thiem who has added 70 ranking points so far this year:
1. Routinely serving in excess of 220 kph – this is a big change from 2016 where Thiem usually used a big kicker for most of his serves with an occasional bomb. First serve points won on the increase.
2. Thiem is noticeably stronger and has more stamina – look for Thiem to beast up for years to come so slowly Thiem will improve especially at holding serve with a stronger attacking game (Thiem saved two games from 0-40 with Paire, and completely beasted out of one with Goffin at Auz Open.
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3. Thiem backhand – more consistent and powerful. One area that he has improved over his best in 2016.
4. Thiem forehand – it’s pretty much back in form and Thiem is able to beast it much more often.
Thiem negatives:
1. The Thiem return game with its big improvement on first return in 2016 has stalled. Thiem is still quite weak against the biggest servers like Raonic or Tsonga.
2. Thiem speed has stalled. Thiem has reached his physical speed max. No more magic increases in his overall game.
Summary:
Thiem will slowly improve his strength and stamina for years to come and steadily climb the rankings. Thiem the beast will emerge. Thiem may be able to excel on grass this year, but majors on clay and hard courts will be a big asks as the Thiem game will exhaust him before tournament end.
Thiem will maintain his ranking after the Australia swing moving up 90 points and maintaining 8th in the world unless Dimitrov wins Auz Open, Tsonga makes final, or Goffin makes final. Cilic is a scant 55 points ahead of Thiem after Auz.
The following table shows the point makeup of Thiem's ranking and a forecast for 2017 (will be updated periodically). Despite winning Rio and its 500 points, Thiem is down 135 points since the Australian Open and can only gain back 100 of those points by defending his title in Acapulco. Thiem is likely to maintain an 8 seed for clay season where this will garner him much needed byes at the three ATP masters 1000 clay events where Thiem is poised to add 170 points to his ranking before the French Open and maintain an 8th seed. Thiem could easily slide lower with very poor performances or injury, but Thiem's ranking is well insulated with two ATP 250 finals not even in his current rankings count. Thiem could easily go on a run at an ATP 1000 or more and boost his ranking nicely.
Thiem unlikely to defend his SF at French Open, but he's defending little in the way of points for the rest of the season, so he'll have a great chance to move back up to top 8 for WTF.
1. Routinely serving in excess of 220 kph – this is a big change from 2016 where Thiem usually used a big kicker for most of his serves with an occasional bomb. First serve points won on the increase.
2. Thiem is noticeably stronger and has more stamina – look for Thiem to beast up for years to come so slowly Thiem will improve especially at holding serve with a stronger attacking game (Thiem saved two games from 0-40 with Paire, and completely beasted out of one with Goffin at Auz Open.
3. Thiem backhand – more consistent and powerful. One area that he has improved over his best in 2016.
4. Thiem forehand – it’s pretty much back in form and Thiem is able to beast it much more often.
Thiem negatives:
1. The Thiem return game with its big improvement on first return in 2016 has stalled. Thiem is still quite weak against the biggest servers like Raonic or Tsonga.
2. Thiem speed has stalled. Thiem has reached his physical speed max. No more magic increases in his overall game.
Summary:
Thiem will slowly improve his strength and stamina for years to come and steadily climb the rankings. Thiem the beast will emerge. Thiem may be able to excel on grass this year, but majors on clay and hard courts will be a big asks as the Thiem game will exhaust him before tournament end.

Thiem will maintain his ranking after the Australia swing moving up 90 points and maintaining 8th in the world unless Dimitrov wins Auz Open, Tsonga makes final, or Goffin makes final. Cilic is a scant 55 points ahead of Thiem after Auz.
The following table shows the point makeup of Thiem's ranking and a forecast for 2017 (will be updated periodically). Despite winning Rio and its 500 points, Thiem is down 135 points since the Australian Open and can only gain back 100 of those points by defending his title in Acapulco. Thiem is likely to maintain an 8 seed for clay season where this will garner him much needed byes at the three ATP masters 1000 clay events where Thiem is poised to add 170 points to his ranking before the French Open and maintain an 8th seed. Thiem could easily slide lower with very poor performances or injury, but Thiem's ranking is well insulated with two ATP 250 finals not even in his current rankings count. Thiem could easily go on a run at an ATP 1000 or more and boost his ranking nicely.

Thiem unlikely to defend his SF at French Open, but he's defending little in the way of points for the rest of the season, so he'll have a great chance to move back up to top 8 for WTF.

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