Now Thiem and the opposite big-ish names – a class occupied by Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev – should really feel as if they will nearly contact the trophy. In response to the bookmakers, one in every of these three males is prone to turn out to be the primary new male grand-slam winner since Marin Cilic right here in 2014. And that’s sure to vary their inner dialogue.
Can Thiem and firm deal with the sudden hike in stakes? Or will their rackets begin to really feel like they’re product of lead?
These usually are not the one potential winners. Developing on the skin are the 2 explosive younger Canadians – Felix Auger Aliassime, who feasted on Andy Murray’s weary strokes in Thursday’s one-sided assembly, plus Denis Shapovalov. After which there are the gamers who – even now – no-one is absolutely speaking about.
What about Borna Coric, who toughed out two five-set dramas final week? Or Vasek Pospisil, who occurs to be Djokovic’s right-hand man in political issues, and has a power-based recreation that flies nicely on the US Open’s quick new Laykold courts?
At some stage, we’re going to witness a long-term altering of the guard. At simply 20 years previous, Auger Aliassime is now seen as a possible kingpin of the mid-to-late 2020s. However what if this anomalous occasion triggers an anomalous winner?
