Great Hands
Pro Tour Player
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2015
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Kieran said:Great Hands said:I'm keen to see how the guys who've made strides in the 250s and 500s (Thiem, Kyrgios, Klizan etc) do in the Masters events. Next month should be interesting...
It should be. And let's not forget that although I like him so far this season, Thiem is already 22. The Big 3 all had begun their slam winning careers by that age, and we're celebrating him winning a 500, as if it's an unheard of thing.
Very true. "Even" Andy Murray, by Thiem's age, had already won four Masters titles, reached a Grand Slam final, and was no.4 in the world. In contrast, Thiem is only no.14 in the world, and has so far never got past the QFs of a Masters, or the 4R of a slam. But as you say, the younger generation has been so unremarkable that Thiem's recent wins seem exciting, even though if he'd been part of the Rafa-Novak-Andy generation, Thiem's recent wins would have seemed like nothing in comparison. That's why I'm interested to see how these younger guys do in the Masters, when it's a proper field with all the top guys. Then we'll see who's really 'got it'! And also, who has the consistency to back up some good wins with more good wins, rather than just say 'Well, I had a nice February, now I'll coast for a bit'.
Kieran said:I'm not slating him, by the way, I'm just thinking out loud about a confab I had with a fellow poster today, one whose opinion I respect. I suppose we expect players to peak later now, because of the physicality of the sport, and this is true, but really, don't all young great prodigy champs also have a mental maturity and fortitude that's beyond their years, and this is something that the generation(s) that followed the Big 3 sorely lack?
Yes, as El Dude has pointed out, statistically, the generation after Novak, Rafa and Andy's - Generation Grigor - is so far the least successful in Open Era history for its age. I mean, has the game really got that much more physical since Novak and Andy rose to become elites eight or so years ago (both of them entered the top 10 when still in their teens!)? I don't think so, I think it's just that the next generation are not as good...