Who will be the next no. 1?

[DSH]

thiem.

 

[BGod]

Nadal's point accumulation every year is a double-edged sword. It appears a stable base wherein nobody else is garnering as much consistency (such as Thiem losing early round at Rome). Yet in the event he fails to win the French and 2 of the Masters his point loss is so tremendous he's essentially outside the Top 5.

Nadal's 2015-2016 seasons should not be discounted along with his 2017-2017 renaissance as 2012 and 2014 inbetween his 2013.

 

[Subway Tennis]

The problem with Zverev is that there are no shock losses because he can lose to anyone anyday. Also when he doesn’t repeat Miami and the clay season of last year, he is likely to lose his #3 or #4 seeding soon, which gives him more troubles in the draws. And then his confidence will go down when he thinks about his game not going nearer to the top, but rather downhill.

He just isn’t the player who is likely to have a career at the top with his playing style and lack of talent in many departments of the game. IMO he already has made big success out of it. So credit for that, but I don’t see him as a Slam winner or #1.

So why won't he do well at Miami and clay m1000 this year? And how is his playing style not perfectly suited to the modern game? You cite his playing style as a problem? He has everything required to do well. Great defence, no power defecit, a big clay game, plays big points very well with a great serve and return game.

 

[King No1e]

Classic TTW.. Thiem leads the poll.

It is always the player who won the last tournament.

Muster and Kuerten made it to #1. It's not impossible for Thiem.

 

[Boom-Boom]

Zverev

 

[MichaelNadal]

I voted Thiem and here's why.

I have Novak winning the French but then I'm not sure. I still have Cilic winning it and the USO should be wide open again, I have Delpo winning it from last year but it remains to be seen how bad his injury problem is. Thiem is defending some big points but not at a lot of events. Basically 3 (Masters F & SF plus the French). He's got IW in his pocket for the long haul while he looks to maintain at Madrid and the French.

He missed Miami last year so those are free points.
Lost 2nd Round at Rome.
Lost 1st Round Wimbledon.
Missed Cincinnati after back to back quarters.
Lost 2nd Round at Shanghai.
Only won 1 match at WTF.

It might be asking a lot but I think given the right set of circumstances Thiem might get the #1 during clay season next year or shortly after the AO if Novak seriously slipped there.

Zverev is going to be the betting favourite but I just don't buy his slow progress all the way to #1, I think he'll have some gluts and not Slam ready yet.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Cilic win another slam either tbh. He's been a bit unlucky not to.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Fedr

 

[chut]

Zverev is the safe bet here, if he finally manages to go deep at slams, it's basically a given since he's the most stable guy around. As mentionned already, he has 6000 points and only 720 from slams.
Thiem can do it but it's going to be harder for him, he needs to change his schedule (stop playing Lyon right before RG maybe?) and try to grind less, he spends too much energy for his own good. That's still possible, but that would be quite a change from him, it's been expected for years now and still no signs of progress..

Dimitrov, Nishikori will never get #1, let's be serious. A bit of a shame but both have been somewhat disappointing.

The others may have a chance to become #1 at a point in their career but they certainly haven't prove it yet. And i don't think one of them will be #1 right after Big4 stops to be.

 

[Tshooter]

FEDR

 

[mike danny]

So why won't he do well at Miami and clay m1000 this year? And how is his playing style not perfectly suited to the modern game? You cite his playing style as a problem? He has everything required to do well. Great defence, no power defecit, a big clay game, plays big points very well with a great serve and return game.

FH not good enough and serve could be better.

And he is a tall giraffe so his defense will never be good enough to be a weapon like it is for Djokodal and Murray.

 

[Subway Tennis]

FH not good enough and serve could be better.

And he is a tall giraffe so his defense will never be good enough to be a weapon like it is for Djokodal and Murray.

I must be watching a different player. His serve is huge to me. While i don't like his forehand aesthetically, i have always thought of it is a serious weapon that he can hit with shape and margin to hook players around the court, or flatten out, particularly as he is tall enough to "hit down" on high balls.

Granted its not at peak Murray or Djokovic's level, but i also thought his defence was at a very very high level on every surface except grass.

Of the OP's list, would you have Thiem reaching number 1 before Zverev?

 

[EloQuent]

The reason Zed won't be #1 isn't because he doesn't have the skills. It's because he chokes in majors. He figures that out - he's #1. But unlike Tsitsipas, FAA, Shapo, it's hard to see him just getting better bc the problem isn't about being good.

The argument for Thiem is that without Nadal he'd have won RG and add on a few masters. Plus recent success on hard.

 

[a10best]

Hate to say it but Zverev. He is solid & confident. He is prone to upsets which will leads us to see his brat attitude. I was Anybody but Djokovic (ABD), now it's ABZ.

 

[mike danny]

I must be watching a different player. His serve is huge to me. While i don't like his forehand aesthetically, i have always thought of it is a serious weapon that he can hit with shape and margin to hook players around the court, or flatten out, particularly as he is tall enough to "hit down" on high balls.

Granted its not at peak Murray or Djokovic's level, but i also thought his defence was at a very very high level on every surface except grass.

Of the OP's list, would you have Thiem reaching number 1 before Zverev?

Until Zverev actually does something in slams, I won't reach any verdict. Thiem at least is a slam contender. Zverev not even close. All his game features matter diddly squat in the end if he can't bring it on the biggest stages.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Until Zverev actually does something in slams, I won't reach any verdict. Thiem at least is a slam contender. Zverev not even close. All his game features matter diddly squat in the end if he can't bring it on the biggest stages.

Agree

 

[iceman_dl6]

Thiem of course! He beat Fed in IW! That was probably the turning point of his (Thiem) career.