Who will end up with a better career: Lleyton Hewitt or Dominic Thiem?

[clout]

I feel like they will both end up with similar careers. Hewitt was pretty much the in-between transitional number one between the Sampras/Agassi era and the Federer/Nadal era, I can definitely see something similar with Thiem being number 1 for one or two seasons in between the big 3 and the next gen.

Age-wise, they had very opposite stories. Virtually all of Hewitt's best accolades came by the time he was 21, an age where Thiem wasn't even a full timer on the ATP Tour yet. On the flip side, Thiem has only gotten better with more experience and will likely continue doing so going forward, while Hewitt at Thiem's current age had already been considered a washed-up player for quite some time.

Thiem certainly has more weapons than Hewitt did - stronger serve, forehand, backhand, and seems like a better athlete overall - but the Aussie did have that unwavering determination that made up for his lack of "natural talent." I think Hewitt's 2 slams, 2 WTFs, 2 YEN1s, 2 Masters, 30 titles, and 70% win rate is certainly an attainable amount for Thiem and then some when it's all said and done, but I guess we'll see in the future.

 

[Cashman]

I don’t see any meaningful comparison between Hewitt and Thiem.

 

[BackhandDTL]

I take that back. I was impressed by 01-03 Hewitts physicality and footspeed.

But Fed era Hewitt bent down in front of his daddy in slam after slam.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Hewitt. Tim isn't guaranteed to even win another slam.

 

[tonylg]

You left out Hewitt's biggest achievement. He has more Davis Cup victories than any other Australian in history. I know that doesn't mean much to people these days, but it still meant a lot in Australia when he set that record.

I first saw him play live in 1999 (his Wiki page seems to start at 2000 ) when he beat Kafelnikov and Safin, going to 4-0 in Davis Cup competition at age 18 after beating the USA earier that year. That was on very fast grass and pure guts.

At the end of the match below, the first thing he said during the on-court interview was "This beats the hell out of winning Wimbledon". That match probably sums up Rusty Hewitt better than any other.

So if they are even on slams, Hewitt wins hands down for being an exceptional Davis Cupper.

 

[abmk]

Hewitt's clearly better on grass, fast HC and indoors.
Thiem clearly better on clay
Slow HC is closest, I'd still give Hewitt of AO 05 the edge over Thiem of AO 2020.

 

[tonylg]

Hewitt's clearly better on grass, fast HC and indoors.
Thiem clearly better on clay
Slow HC is closest, I'd still give Hewitt of AO 05 the edge over Thiem of AO 2020.

Thiem was VERY lucky to beat Alex Bolt (WC) at AO 2020.

 

[abmk]

Thiem certainly has more weapons than Hewitt did - stronger serve, forehand, backhand, and seems like a better athlete overall - but the Aussie did have that unwavering determination that made up for his lack of "natural talent." I think Hewitt's 2 slams, 2 WTFs, 2 YEN1s, 2 Masters, 30 titles, and 70% win rate is certainly an attainable amount for Thiem and then some when it's all said and done, but I guess we'll see in the future.

This is insulting to Hewitt.
Return in another galaxy.
passing shots, lob and net play all considerably better for Hewitt.
Hewitt's BH was also clearly better.

 

[Justice Underworld]

Thiem most likely.

 

[travlerajm]

This is insulting to Hewitt.
Return in another galaxy.
passing shots, lob and net play all considerably better for Hewitt.
Hewitt's BH was also clearly better.

the athleticism edge to Hewitt too.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Hewitt is significantly more talented in terms of footwork and ball placement / taking it early, Thiem only has a sizeable advantage in power when he has time to set up, which makes him superior on the slowest/bounciest courts and that's it.

 

[Yugram]

Hewitt is significantly more talented in terms of footwork and ball placement / taking it early, Thiem only has a sizeable advantage in power when he has time to set up, which makes him superior on the slowest/bounciest courts and that's it.

I wonder what exactly Hewitt takes early and where he takes it.

 

[Yugram]

может твой просто вкус такой что ты обожаешь такие игры и стили игроков, твое право, но все-таки думаю правда здесь не на твоей стороне, ебнул эйс и пошел курить хах

Нет-нет, все не так. Ебнул подачу ИИИИ завершил добиванием с хавкорта после полу-срыва с приема. Pure GOATness.

 

[dominikk1985]

Don't forget that hewitt was a superstar at 19-20. He was then passed by federer and the slow courts didn't really help his game but for about 2 years he was the biggest star especially for young kids.

I remember watching a high level junior tournament at my home club and the tournament was full of mini hewitts with red shirts, backwards caps and shouting c'mon every other point.

Hewitt really was a big star at a very young age he just had some bad luck with 1)the goat at the time was emerging and 2) the courts getting slower which was not good for his counter game as he relied more on redirecting pace than generating his own pace and spin.

Thiem never was seen as that kind of talent but he is more that super hard worker who tries to evolve his game every day leading to a kind of later peak. Kinda a bit like lendl albeit two levels below lendl who was much more successful.

However if thiem does manage to win 2-3 more slams he could be seen kinda as a poor men's lendl and also ahead of hewitt.

But as of now hewitt is clearly ahead especially with his time at number 1.

 

[Fabresque]

Thiem.

 

[Red Rick]

Thiem

I hate it too.

 

[Sport]

.

 

[RS]

Thiem is better than Hewitt anywhere outside grass. Thiem has won 1 Grand Slam on hard, Hewitt 0. Thiem has 2 Grand Slam finals on hard, Hewitt only 1.

Now, because Hewitt has 2 Slams and Thiem only 1, I still consider Hewitt a superior tennis player. It may change in the future though if Thiem is able to surpass Hewitt's GS count.

Hewitt has 2 grand slam finals on hard

 

[tonylg]

Hewitt and Thiem both have a US Open as their maiden slam. Thiem had to beat Zverev in the final and Hewitt had to beat Sampras.

They both have a same age contempory. Hewitt's was Federer, Thiem's is Schwartzman.

 

[Sport]

Hewitt has 2 grand slam finals on hard

Wtf, you replied faster than Usain Bolt. I literally checked the Wikipedia one second after posting my message to check out if I was correct and when I came back thirty seconds later you had already replied.

I deleted my comment.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Hewitt has 2 grand slam finals on hard

Good exposing job, detective RS.

 

[Sport]

Good exposing job, detective RS.

Unnecessary, I was about to delete that specific message with or without his reply.

 

[NatF]

Wtf, you replied faster than Usain Bolt. I literally checked the Wikipedia one second after posting my message to check out if I was correct and when I came back thirty seconds later you had already replied.

I deleted my comment.

Your lack of knowledge is embarassing.

 

[RS]

Wtf, you replied faster than Usain Bolt. I literally checked the Wikipedia one second after posting my message to check out if I was correct and when I came back thirty seconds later you had already replied.

I deleted my comment.

No prob.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Hewitt shall probably always be considered greater.

 

[abmk]

LEL, hewitt has no slam on HC.

 

[abmk]

Hewitt has 2 grand slam finals on hard

3 slam finals on hard including the one he won - USO 01, USO 04 and AO 05

 

[Sport]

Your lack of knowledge is embarassing.

There is nothing embarassing about ignoring Hewitt's career, it's not like we are talking about an all-time great.

 

[Start da Game]

of course dominic thiem........his best is about to come.........

 

[abmk]

There is nothing embarassing about ignoring Hewitt's career, it not like we are talking about an all-time great.

Its about your lack of knowledge.
Thiem isn't going to be an ATG either.
And you jumped into this thread. No one forced you to.

 

[NatF]

There is nothing embarassing about ignoring Hewitt's career, it not like we are talking about an all-time great.

If you were actually ignoring it you wouldn't comment, you consistently comment on things you know nothing about

 

[Sport]

Its about your lack of knowledge.
Thiem isn't going to be an ATG either.
And you jumped into this thread. No one forced you to.

Not knowing about Lleyton Hewitt's career is a quite specific lack of knowledge, not a general one.

Ignoring Hewitt's career doesn't mean you ignore other topics such as quantum physics, philosophy, literature or even many tennis players not named Hewitt.

I deleted the message I posted about Hewitt 30 seconds aster posting it, once I checked his results on Wikipedia.

 

[Sport]

If you were actually ignoring it you wouldn't comment, you consistently comment on things you know nothing about

That is an overgeneralization. A specific mistake (which wss corrected), doesn't mean I typically make mistakes when discussing a player's resume.

 

[abmk]

Not knowing about Lleyton Hewitt's career is a quite specific lack of knowledge, not a general one.

Ignoring Hewitt's career doesn't mean you ignore other topics such as quantum physics, philosophy, literature or even many tennis players not named Hewitt.

I deleted the message I posted about Hewitt 30 seconds aster posting it, once I checked his results on Wikipedia.

I'm talking about knowledge of tennis only. Since this is a tennis forum.

Not even going into much detail. Just the basics.

 

[NatF]

That is an overgeneralization. A specific mistake (which wss corrected), doesn't mean I typically make mistakes when discussing a player's resume.

Hardly the first time. It's fine if you didn't follow those players careers or it was before you time etc...but at least get your facts straight before pushing your agenda.

 

[Deleted member 758560]

Hewitt has 2 grand slam finals on hard

3 finals, haha

 

[zagor]

Well Hewitt has him in most categories at the moment, more big titles, was #1 for a decent amount of time etc.

Thiem already has had better longevity more or less so he could pass Hewitt on slam titles alone but that's far from a guarantee. He barely won his only slam to date and routinely freezes up in big finals despite all the hype he receives.

 

[tonylg]

Your lack of knowledge is embarassing.

Pretty common among Johnny come lately fans of the "big" 3.

Guy straight sets Pete Sampras to win the USO --> no hardcourt slam.

At that point, really should have just walked away.

 

[zagor]

I wonder what exactly Hewitt takes early and where he takes it.

Takes the ball earlier/on the rise. Thiem needs time to set up his massive groundies which is why until recently he mostly had good results only on clay.

 

[RS]

3 slam finals on hard including the one he won - USO 01, USO 04 and AO 05

Oh yeah left out his win by mistake.

 

[BackhandDTL]

So if they are even on slams, Hewitt wins hands down for being an exceptional Davis Cupper.

Sounds like this is an argument that could apply elsewhere.

 

[Yugram]

Thiem is already a much more superior player than Mugwitt.

@abmk now start crying

 

[Linelicker]

Thiem will become bigger. Will dominate clay when Rafa is done.

I was more impressed with Hewitt as a player. Underrated on TT, I think.

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Hewitt. It's not just about the Slams.

 

[Oval_Solid]

compare their ages when they first won their first slam

 

[NatF]

OT: Hewitt is more talented, unlucky with injuries. Thiem may end up achieving more if he stops choking in every big match but that's not a given.

 

[BackhandDTL]

OT: Hewitt is more talented, unlucky with injuries. Thiem may end up achieving more if he stops choking in every big match but that's not a given.

Hewitt didn’t choke from 04-07 because he bent down in front of his daddy before the match started. You have to make it a match first in order for there to be a potential of a choke.

 

[RS]

Hewitt didn’t choke from 04-07 because he bent down in front of his daddy before the match started. You have to make it a match first in order for there to be a potential of a choke.

You boy Murray fairs no better.

 

[Yugram]

Thiem will become bigger. Will dominate clay when Rafa is done.

I was more impressed with Hewitt as a player. Underrated on TT, I think.

Are you sure Thiem is still a thing after 2024?

 

[BackhandDTL]

You boy Murray fairs no better.

Overall yeah. Atleast he was a legitimate threat from 2012-13 before injury against prime Djokovic