Dominic Thiem believes there will be a new Grand Slam winner this year

World No. 4 Dominic Thiem expressed confidence that a new Grand Slam champion will be crowned in 2020, outside the big three of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

While the Austrian, Germany's Alexander Zverev, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and others have had success at lesser tournaments, the big guns continue to dominate the Majors.

Thiem, in Sydney for the inaugural ATP Cup team event, is one of the men tipped to make the breakthrough, with the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, just weeks away in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old believes the younger players are getting close.

"I think we challenged them already a lot. We also beat them especially on Masters 1000 stages and the ATP Finals," said Thiem, who was runner-up to Tsitsipas at the ATP Finals in London two months ago.

"I think the last stage we have to conquer is the Grand Slam stage, and I really think we'll see a new Grand Slam champion in 2020. I really hope that it's me but... there are also many other very strong guys who can achieve that."

Thiem won five titles last year, but had a mixed time at the Majors, suffering early exits at at Wimbledon, the US Open, and Australian Open. But he reached the French Open final, where he lost to Nadal. - AFP