Who is better: Dominic Thiem or David Goffin?

[La Grande]

They both played Djokovic this week. Both made it "interesting" lol.

Goffin is 25 and ranked 15.
Thiem is 22 and ranked 14.

I personally think they're the Ferrer and Berdych (not in style, results) of tomorrow... solid as hell, top 10 regulars, special at times, but not quite good enough to win slams or break the top 3.

What do you guys think? Who do you think is the better player now and who has the more bright future (next 3-5 years)? More impressive my Thiem because he's slightly higher ranked but 3 years younger? Or think they're very similar?

Just to add this in, nearly forgot. Some career info.
Thiem's career winning percentage is 57%, Goffin's is 55%.
Thiem has 5 titles (turned pro in 2012) and Goffin has 2 titles (turned pro 2009).
Goffin has made the SF of a M1000 twice.. Thiem has made 1 QF and 2 4th round.
Regarding majors, Goffin has made the 4th round 3 times and Thiem has made the 3rd round twice

Are they close or is Thiem the obvious answer?

 

[mellowyellow]

Think Thiem but not obvious, at this point winning gas been reserved for the select few so titles means little to the age difference. Really as you saw here the draw worked for Monfils, Goffin and Nick. It did not for Berdy and Thiem.

 

[mellowyellow]

I would add Thiem has done well on likely his second best surface against guys who prefer it. I would look to the clay and better management of time at the big tourneys. Hopefully he gets a favorable draw like the other guys did here. Of course you can't discount the opportunity to play a top seed and learn as I Believe he is, but preferably in a quarter at the earliest.

 

[West Coast Ace]

I wouldn't use the 'good loss' v Djokovic to compare them. Thiem has big weapons and when hot can dominate a match; Goffin is more of a Simon, Ferrer, play defense, counterpunch.

 

[mattosgrant]

Right now they are on a pretty similar level, but Thiem has much more long term potential. I think he should get a couple of slams in his career (of course there are many guys people said that about at one stage who never won one), and I will be shocked if Goffin ever wins one.

 

[tennis_pro]

Right now they are on a pretty similar level, but Thiem has much more long term potential. I think he should get a couple of slams in his career (of course there are many guys people said that about at one stage who never won one), and I will be shocked if Goffin ever wins one.

No way.

 

[Chadillac]

Am i the only one who has never seen theim play?

Goffin by far

 

[Fiero425]

Am i the only one who has never seen theim play?

Goffin by far

I think you guys have forgotten Thiem has actually won a tournament and even came back from MP to beat Rafa on clay a month ago! ;-)

 

[Deleted member 307496]

I think you guys have forgotten Theim has actually won and even came back from MP to beat Rafa on clay a month ago! ;-)

Beating Rafa of today isn't any harder than beating a guy like Ferrer on clay.

 

[Fiero425]

Beating Rafa of today isn't any harder than beating a guy like Ferrer on clay.

ITA, but he's still made a name for himself over and above Goffin who I like! He's been playing well and took his country into a DC final, but he needs to get a real weapon to compete with the likes of Thiem and others! ;-)

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Theim has actually won a tournament

He beat Thiem to do it too lol.

Spoiler

 

[Deleted member 307496]

ITA, but he's still made a name for himself over and above Goffin who I like! He's been playing well and took his country into a DC final, but he needs to get a real weapon to compete with the likes of Theim and others! ;-)

To be honest I don't see it. Goffin's just made 2 consecutive Masters semis. His name is as prominent as Thiem's.

 

[Fiero425]

He beat Thiem to do it too lol.

I need to look that up; didn't stick I guess! Thiem made more of a name for himself on clay; esp. taking out Nadal in the semi after being down a MP! Goffin hasn't done that yet I don't think! ;-)

 

[Deleted member 688153]

To be honest I don't see it. Goffin's just made 2 consecutive Masters semis. His name is as prominent as Thiem's.

Good point, didn't even think of that.

 

[Fiero425]

To be honest I don't see it. Goffin's just made 2 consecutive Masters semis. His name is as prominent as Thiem's.

I think Thiem's game is more dominating! He can whack a serve and forehand that Goffin can only dream about right now! The net play is miles apart as well! ;=)

 

[Deleted member 688153]

I need to look that up; didn't stick I guess! Theim made more of a name for himself on clay; esp. taking out Nadal in the semi after being down a MP! Goffin hasn't done that yet I don't think! ;-)

Yeah but as Sabratha said beating Nadal these days is no better than just beating anyone from the top 15-20 really.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

I think Thiem's game is more dominating! He can whack a serve and forehand that Goffin can only dream about right now! The net play is miles apart as well! ;=)

Tsonga can hit a better forehand than Murray, but look at their respective careers.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

I think Thiem's game is more dominating! He can whack a serve and forehand that Goffin can only dream about right now! The net play is miles apart as well! ;=)

Groth has a serve that Novak can only dream of.

 

[mattosgrant]

No way.

Well you are the same one saying Djokovic has no shot to catch and pass 17 slams. Yet you have been saying on all these threads Raonic, Thiem, and even Kygrios are overhyped and will never win one. That is almost contradictory. There will be 4 slams every year. Someone has to win them.

 

[tennis_pro]

Well you are the same one saying Djokovic has no shot to catch and pass 17 slams. Yet you have been saying on all these threads Raonic, Thiem, and even Kygrios are overhyped and will never win one. That is almost contradictory. There will be 4 slams every year. Someone has to win them.

Not Kyrgios.

 

[mattosgrant]

Not Kyrgios.

Well if you end up right then Thiem probably has to. According to you Djokovic is winning 3 more or less. Kygrios isnt winning any according to you, and you have said Raonic is the most overhyped player out there. Someone has to win the slams.

 

[tennis_pro]

Well if you end up right then Thiem probably has to. According to you Djokovic is winning 3 more or less. Kygrios isnt winning any according to you, and you have said Raonic is the most overhyped player out there. Someone has to win the slams.

There are more than 3 players on tour.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

There are more than 3 players on tour.

Really? Who?

 

[Chadillac]

I think you guys have forgotten Thiem has actually won a tournament and even came back from MP to beat Rafa on clay a month ago! ;-)

Watching his match vs tsonga at IW now.

1h backhand, i like him more already but goffin has been playing good.

 

[mellowyellow]

Good point, didn't even think of that.

And if he had played Djoko in the 4th rd like Thiem did, he would of lost too in the 4th.

 

[PHS_10]

Thiem and it is not even close

 

[thebigz]

Regarding playing style, Thiem is like the young Stan Wawrinka in many regards: better at slower surface such as clay; need more time to set up his shots but has massive power off both wing; a bit inconsistent here and there. The path Thiem will need to take is learn to play better at all surfaces as Stan did much later in his career and control those power shots better

 

[Meles]

To be honest I don't see it. Goffin's just made 2 consecutive Masters semis. His name is as prominent as Thiem's.

Lucky draws. The guy who got to beat Stan this year at IW. Actually a tough match for Thiem.

Decent clay court player, but even Coric mIght go further this year on clay.

 

[Meles]

There are more than 3 players on tour.

Who do you see winning slams in two years?

 

[Nonsense]

He beat Thiem to do it too lol.

Spoiler

Those are some ugly trophies.

 

[Nonsense]

I think Thiem will win a slam or come really close (RG likely).

If and when Djokovic declines and the era is still "weak", it will be free game for everybody to sneak a slam or two before the next ATG candidate arrives.

 

[Jonas78]

Its obivous that the most important factor is which of them Monfils coaches, but i dont know his skills when it comes to mental coaching.

I fear that both Thiem, Goffin (and Nishi) are big chokers, and have to learn to deal with that to win anything above ATP 250/500.

• Thiem managed the amazing act of losing 14 of 14 BP vs Nole (the one he got was Noles double fault!) in Miami.
• Goffin (like Nishi) couldnt handle the situation of being ahead of Nole. Once they got their break, Nole immediately had a break next game. They will also highly probably lose 10 out of 10 tiebreaks vs Nole, partly because of choking.

 

[Dave1982]

Hard to not give the nod to Goffin here due to following fact:

• Goffin leads H2H against Thiem 4 - 2 (one of Thiem's wins coming at expense of Goffin retirement)
• Goffin has won only Grand Slam match contested between the two players (AO 2016)
• Goffin has defeated Thiem across all surfaces (Clay, Grass, Outdoor hard, Indoor hard)
• Goffin currently ranked higher than Thiem (separated by 1 ranking spot and 140 points)

Agree that gap between them is closer than above suggests and in many ways with Thiem being 3 years younger he arguably has the greater upside...at present though and based on your question, facts point to Goffin.

 

[tennisfan2015]

Thiem.

 

[Lavs]

Thiem is way better in "watchable" department.

 

[okdude1992]

Yea I cannot picture Goffin winning a slam at all. He doesn't have anything about his game that stands out.
He's not as good a grinder as Ferrer, as good a counter-puncher as prime Hewitt, as good a clean ballstriker as Nishikori or prime Davydenko.

Thiem has some holes in his game, but he also has some big weapons. Very Wawrinka or Fernando Gonzalez esque. I don't see him as a future great, but I could definitely see him winning a slam (AO or RG).